When Matty Richards decided to raffle off one of his photography prints to raise some money for Lifeline, he hoped he could collect $1000.
That was before the NRL Grand Final kicked off and by half time, he'd already eclipsed his goal.
Less than two weeks on and he has raised about $10,000 for the mental health charity and has been left "overwhelmed" by the support for his cause.
"It's been incredible," the New Lambton father said.
"I just can't believe the community backing.
"It's so Newcastle. It doesn't matter whether it's good or bad, we always support each other.
"It's really nice to see what we've done as a community, because it's not just me, it's everyone who has helped.
"It's really overwhelming and really humbling."
Related: Lifeline Newcastle to deliver online counselling services to regional and rural areas
Mr Richards said he decided to organise the "Giveaway 2 Giveback" fundraiser after losing his best mate to suicide last year and his mother also dying suddenly the year before.
"It was quite difficult," he said. "I've had my own personal battles and worked pretty hard in the past 12 months to get through it.
"Photography has really helped and the gym. Having people around you makes a big difference too."
Mr Richards, who works as a school learning support officer at Cardiff High, said he wanted to do something that would inspire his students as well as his own children.
"I wanted to raise that conversation," he said. "It's something I'm pretty passionate about.
"I'm using what's happened in my life as fuel to help others.
"A big thing for me as a father is to make my kids proud but also the kids at school."
Mr Richards was further motivated after he visited Lifeline last week, where he was shown exactly what the financial support would do for the organisation.
"It costs nearly $71 every time they pick up that phone," he said.
"This will help pay for those calls and go to a new text service they're running."
Lifeline Hunter regional general manager Julie Wicks said the service was "extremely grateful" for Matty's efforts.
"It was an absolute pleasure to meet Matty and show him through our centre," Ms Wicks said.
"Lifeline relies on fundraising as to support our services, so every dollar certainly counts.
"I think it is suffice to say this fundraiser speaks volumes for Matty and the support and awareness for ongoing mental health and suicide prevention services in the Newcastle community.
"Fundraisers and campaigns like Matty's also contribute to supporting the work that Lifeline does to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide by creating awareness and promoting conversation."
The prize print itself is a metaphor for mental health, Mr Richards said. It depicts a lone person walking along the beach from Merewether towards Bar.
"It's usually chockers along there, but this one day there was just one person," he said.
"It resembles mental health - although it appears to be just one person, that person isn't really alone. They have family, friends, colleagues who are outside of the picture."
Mr Richards ran the competition through the Instagram page of his photography page - Be Better Than Yesterday.
The winner of the print will be drawn by two of Mr Richards' role models - artist Mitch Revs and photographer Scott Harrison - at Mitch's gallery on Sunday.
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