Hughes will speak at The Bradford Hotels corporate charity sports luncheon on Friday, September 22 to help raise money for The Mark Hughes Foundation for brain cancer research.

Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children, and adults aged under 40 in Australia, yet alarmingly very little is known about brain cancer, its causes or how it is treated.

Born and bred in Kurri Kurri, where he was an apprentice fitter and machinist before making a career out of rugby league, Hughes underwent surgery to remove a tumour followed by seven weeks of radiation treatment and six months of chemotherapy shortly after his diagnosis in 2013.

The two-time premiership-winning former Newcastle Knights utility boasts a 161-game National Rugby League career.

He formed the Mark Hughes Foundation so that research can be carried out to decrease mortality rates and decrease the incidence of brain cancer in Australia.

Earlier this year, in an incredible display of generosity The NRL Footy Show in combination with the Mark Hughes Foundation, announced that the Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign had raised $1.751 million for brain cancer research.

The Rutherford luncheon will start at midday and run through until 5pm.

The day will include a two-course meal as well as beer, wine and soft drinks.

Tickets are available at The Bradford Hotel, Rutherford for $100 per person or $1000 for a table of 10.