After former AFL player Brendon Fevola announced he would donate $50,000 of his I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here winnings to the foundation, McDonald Jones Homes pitched in with another $50,000.

McDonald Jones Homes director Bill McDonald was inspired by the mateship of Mr Harragon and his commitment to help his former Newcastle Knights teammate raise money for brain cancer research.

Mr McDonald presented the funds on Tuesday at the McDonald Jones Homes office in Thornton.

Mark Hughes said he was blown away when the company offered the donation.

Mr McDonald said it felt fitting to support a local charity that helped local people.

“The Hunter is our backyard and Mark and Paul have done so much for the community over many years,” he said.

“This is our way of saying thank you to them and to the thousands of people who have supported our company.”

Mr Hughes said the funds would most likely go towards continuing their research projects.

The donation topped off the support that the Mark Hughes Foundation received during Mr Harragon’s time in the South African jungle.

Mr Hughes said Mr Harragon was emotional after hearing about the donation.

“He’s just over the moon that his home town has got behind him,” Mr Hughes said.

“He just wanted us to get the full prize money, and now we’ve got that and more.

“To know that all his effort over six weeks is paying right off for everyone is fantastic.”

Mr Hughes said the experience had attracted important attention to the cause the foundation supported.

“Brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of people under 40 and children under 10,” he said.

“But it doesn’t get the same exposure and awareness as others.

“This has given us exposure, and that’s amazing for us.”