WHILE a group of generous visitors were in Warwick to support the Sandy Creek Pig Races, a tragedy was unfolding in their own hometown.

Fires ravaged Tathra, destroying homes and causing devastation.

The pig races at Sandy Creek traditionally support LifeFlight, but this year the bushfire tragedy inspired the organising committee to add another name to the list of organisations in need of support.

Sandy Creek Pub owner Kevin Kiley said more than $15,000 was raised at this year's pig races, with half being donated to LifeFlight and the other half divvied up between the Tathra Lions Club and Queensland Cancer Council.

"We just put it to the committee because you want to try and help people out,” Mr Kiley said.

Supporting LifeFlight is a cause close to the community's heart, as the service has given life-saving assistance to many.

The races were established eight years ago after the grand daughter of local woman Jodi Crowley had respiratory problems and was saved three times by LifeFlight.

Mrs Crowley said the races were the perfect way to give back.

"You just don't know when you're going to need it yourself, out of the blue somebody's being flown,” she said.

"If we can save one life it's amazing.”

About 200 people attended the pig races on March 17 and Mr Kiley said the event went like clockwork.

"Country areas are really generous people, the more you get into the country areas the more generous people are,” he said.