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No rest for Sleapy’s Foundation ahead of big Day

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When Peter Sleap recovered from throat cancer, amid a fanfare of support, he made a vow to “pay it forward”.

And, he’s stayed true to his word.

In just a decade, the event he established with the help of the South Newcastle Lions Rugby League Football Club, Sleapy’s Day, has amassed and distributed more than $750,000; and enabled him to set up Sleapy’s Foundation.

“My wife, Robynn, and I created it [Sleapy’s Day] in 2010, a year after I was diagnosed with throat cancer,” he said.

“While I was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, some footy mates of mine – and the Lions fraternity – rallied together to raise funds to assist my medical expenses and other necessities through a sports luncheon featuring North Queensland Cowboys duo Peter Parr and Jonathan Thurston.

“I was overwhelmed by their generosity, it was completely unexpected, and it meant the world to Robynn and I.

“Once I improved, I felt compelled to repay the club – and it just grew and grew.

“So, we thought, let’s make a charity out of it.

“You know, form something good from a bad situation and start helping others with cancer.

“So, Sleapy’s Day was born.

“It means a lot to me because it’s grown so much.

“It began with 30 people, raising $7,000 – now we attract between 4,000 and 5,000 people [to the game] and raise hundreds of thousands for cancer sufferers and people facing adversity.”

Adding to the atmosphere of the 2021 instalment of Sleapy’s Day is a real “grudge match” – South Newcastle Lions locking horns with the Western Suburbs Rosellas at Townson Oval on Saturday 17 July.

The festivities will continue afterwards at Souths Merewether, in Llewellyn Street, from 6pm.

“We’ve never played the Rosellas on Sleapy’s Day,” Sleap said.

“So, this is a first.

“But, Souths and Wests are both foundation clubs [of Newcastle Rugby League].

“It’ll be great to combine Sleapy’s Day with such a bitter rivalry on the paddock.

“We virtually hate each other; in fact, I think it’s worse than State of Origin.

“However, to see them teaming up for such a good cause, it’s terrific.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Souths.

“When a club like that gets behind you, it not only feels great, but you want to give back any way you can.

“We’ve now opened up an office [for Sleapy’s Foundation] at Souths Merewether.

“That’s where our roots are.

“And, the partnership between Sleapy’s Foundation and Souths means so much to me.”

Peter Sleap.

Asking Sleap about his own rugby league deeds leads to a fair degree of sheepishness.

“I was an ordinary footballer,” he said with a laugh.

“However, when you win a couple of [first grade] grand finals, that kind of bonds you to the club.

“When they say ‘winning isn’t everything’, that’s crap.

“People take enjoyment out of it, and when you win a first grade title, you’ve got friends forever.

“We got beaten in the ‘86 and ’87 deciders but captured the ’88 and ’89 titles.

“That was an awesome feeling.”

Despite the day and foundation’s successes, Sleap is keen to build on that momentum into the future.

“Since we’ve become a charity, it means people can go out and do fundraising on our behalf,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“That was a big goal.

“Because everything centred around Sleapy’s Day, it was just one huge event.

“But, we wanted to be bigger than that.

“Now, we can branch out – host a golf day or people can donate funds directly to the foundation.

“That’s the way we’ll grow.

“Year after year, Sleapy’s Day is a big occasion, however you want it to be bigger and cover different areas, not just Sleapy’s Day.”

Although he’s looking forward to next month’s sporting extravaganza, and secretly hoping for a Souths’ victory, Sleap admits “the work never ends”.

“Whereas the Mark Hughes Foundation concentrates on research, which is fantastic, Sleapy’s Foundation is about helping the people who are struggling [with cancer],” he said.

“So, we complement each other.

“We might have walked different paths, but we have the same objectives.

“Mark [Hughes] and I have actually become friends through our charities – he’s a terrific bloke.”

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