None more so than those from the Western Plains Junior Rugby Union (WPJRU).

For the first time this year, representatives from all Western Plains clubs came together in one place.

That effort wasn't even the part of the weekend which made organisers most proud.

Prior to the NSW Country Eagles' clash with Sydney at Apex Oval the WPJRU came together in a special way to make a donation to the My Pal Al charity.

It's a charity close to the hearts of all involved, as it was started by the Kennedy family in January following the passing of their husband and father, Alan, last year after a battle with cancer.

The WPJRU presented a cheque for $1000 on Saturday, $500 of that coming from the group and $500 coming from the Macquarie Emus club the Trangie-based Kennedy family has had a long association with.

"Obviously it was quite emotional but we were blown away," Alan's wife Kate said.

There would have been very few people around the rugby on Friday and Saturday who aren't now aware of My Pal Al.

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The charity, aiming to raise awareness around preventable cancers, provided a huge number of the My Pal Al caps and stubby holders which were seen all around Apex.

"It was unexpected," Kate Kennedy said of the donation.

"But we knew something was in the works when they put in an order for all the hats and stubby holders but we weren't expecting a donation, especially in these tough times with the drought."

WPJRU president Bec Yeomans, a close friend of the Kennedys, wanted to keep the donation a surprise and the event was more proof of the unity within the far-west competition.

Western Plains families come from Trangie to Bourke, and Cobar to Brewarrina but despite rarely all being together in one place it is a close-knit group.

"Bec and I met through Western Plains Junior Rugby Union and it's turned into an amazing friendship that's gone above and beyond. That shows what it's about," Kate Kennedy added.

The donation, along with the exposure given by the caps on show on Saturday, have helped My Pal Al continue to grow.

The reaction since the charity started has been immense, with photos of people in the caps with the #MyPalAl and #ImSpreadingALittleBitOfHope hashtags now flooding social media.

It all comes after one of Kennedy's daughters, Annie, found a way to share her grief last year by posting blogs and stories which had an immediate affect on people.

"We've been blown away by how it's resonated," Kate said, before talking about the idea of the charity and starting a Facebook page.

"My daughter had an idea and I said I loved it and then she realised once she said it out loud she really had to do it.

"It's bigger than us. It's about preventable cancers in regional areas. We can be neglected sometimes but we want to raise the awareness and get the ball rolling.

"Things are improving but out here we're already behind the eight ball so we're just trying to spread that message about any cancers."

Kennedy also had a huge amount of praise for the NSW Country and Sydney players, in particular Eagles captain Ned Hanigan, who helped out and showed their support while in Dubbo.

Kennedy's youngest son, also named Ned, also got to run out hand-in-hand with Hanigan when the Eagles went out onto Apex Oval on Saturday.

Dubbo junior Tom Robertson, also involved with the Eagles, had been on hand earlier on Sunday to help with a presentation the WPJRU made to their sponsors.