More than $8,000 has been raised for former police officer Craig Campbell after media organisations joined with Muslim community leaders for a charity soccer tournament on Sunday.
Campbell, 56, was the subject of an iconic photo during the Cronulla riots when the burly policeman saved a Middle Eastern couple on a train by furiously swinging his police baton to force a mob of youths to back away.
However, on the 10th anniversary of the riots in January this year, a Fairfax Media revealed Campbell's life took a downward turn.
His bravery award was taken away after the police hierarchy deemed he used "excessive force", he left the force with chronic PTSD and he now lives in a caravan in his parents' driveway.
When Belmore GP and Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi heard about Campbell, he called upon former premier Morris Iemma to help create a football tournament to show the former police officer how much the community appreciated his efforts.
Bulldogs legend Hazem El Masri, champion boxer Billy Dib and local sheikhs Ahmed Abdo and Nabil Suckarie were among those who led teams in the Craig Campbell Cohesion Cup at Punchbowl in Sydney's west on Sunday.
The Auburn Giants, the Muslim Women's Association, Granville Boys High School, the Australian Human Rights Commission and media organisations including the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC also competed and raised funds for Campbell and the Luke Batty Foundation.
Each of the 16 teams who participated donated $500 to join the tournament. Several private donors have also contributed money, with the final figure raised to be revealed on Friday.
Campbell, who is still fighting for an injury payout to cover knee problems, cheered from the sidelines.
"When Dr Rifi contacted me, I was just like, wow, there are no words to describe it," Campbell said. "Seeing that the public appreciate what I did, that's worth more than anything to me."
Dr Rifi read an article about Campbell's situation when he was in the midst of a court battle against a group of protesters who wanted to stage a 10-year "celebration" of the Cronulla riots as a protest against multiculturalism.
"I was shocked because if there is anything that we should be remembering or celebrating about that day, it is the brave actions of this man," he said.
Since leaving the force, Campbell's marriage broke down and now lives on $440-a-week workers' compensation because he is unable to hold down a job due to his PTSD.
Earlier this year, two Muslim men tracked down Campbell and travelled to Wollongong to take him out for lunch and give him some new clothes and cash that the community had raised.
This story was originally published in May 2016.