Bonnie Hughes was only 18 months old when her dad was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Now 14, she knows a lot more about what it's like to have Mark Hughes for a dad.
Mr Hughes announced a massive $18.9 million donation from the Mark Hughes Foundation to the University of Newcastle on Wednesday.
Bonnie surprised her dad by giving a touching speech at the event at Hunter Medical Research Institute.
"I was too young to understand what was happening, too young to know how much uncertainty, fear and heartbreak my family was facing," Bonnie told the audience.
Mr Hughes was prominent in the Hunter as a dual premiership winner with the Newcastle Knights.
But after his brain cancer diagnosis in 2013, his profile grew as he and wife Kirralee established the foundation to tackle the disease.
"For me, Dad has always just been Dad - the one who makes me laugh, supports me, embarrasses me sometimes, and is always there for our family," Bonnie said.
"Growing up, the Mark Hughes Foundation was never something separate from our family.
"To me, it was just Mum and Dad's charity. It was part of our lives."
She helped sell beanies, pack orders and spread the message.
"Being involved in the Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign has always been something I've loved," she said.
"But as I've gotten older, I've started to understand more about what brain cancer really means.
"And if I'm honest, it scares me. It scares me to think that Dad has this horrible disease."
She added that seeing "all the researchers, fundraisers, volunteers, supporters and donors gives me hope that brain cancer one day won't be a death sentence".
Bonnie said she was proud of how her dad "faced every challenge with courage" and "turned something so difficult into something that helps so many other people".
Mr Hughes said his daughter's speech was "a wonderful moment".
"I'm quite good with my emotions, but it made me a little teary that she had the courage to get up and talk about a pretty tough subject," he said.
"I was very proud."
Mrs Hughes said "Mark had a big smile on his face".
"Sometimes in this journey, we forget we're that family [affected by brain cancer]. We're living through it ourselves," she said.
Mr Hughes has scans every four or five months.
"It's something I carry with me, but I'm here and I'm fighting fit. I feel like I have an army of supporters to help me keep going," he said.
Mark and Kirralee also have two sons, Zac, 21, and Dane,18.
"We always shielded the children when they were younger. They were too young to understand," Mrs Hughes said.
Mr Hughes said Newcastle and the Hunter Valley were "the heartland of the foundation".
"People continue to support us, which is awesome," he said.
The NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer round will be held from June 25 to 28.
"It's not job done. We need to keep raising funds," Mr Hughes said.
"We'd love some government and corporate support. It'd be great to go to that next level."
