Sporting family's struggle strikes a chord

Black Stick Shea McAleese is helping to organise a charity hockey match to support a Hawke's Bay sporting family in need.

A Napier hockey match featuring top New Zealand players is a chance to "give back" to a Hawke's Bay sporting family struggling with cancer, organisers say.

Taradale High School sports co-ordinator Angela Nilsson-Findlay and her husband Graeme are involved with coaching and managing primary, intermediate, secondary school and representative hockey teams. The family also has close ties with cricket, netball, surf-lifesaving and swimming.

Ms Nilsson-Findlay is currently battling cancer, secondary to breast cancer diagnosed in 2012.

Local hockey stalwarts Simon and Sarah Nation began planning this Saturday's Findlay Family Benefit Match after they learned Hawke's Bay-bred Black Stick Shea McAleese was inviting players to Napier for his 30th birthday.

"We just thought we'd make it happen. It's just a good way of giving back, because they've given so much to so many people. It's a chance to get everyone in one place and say, 'thank you'."

Provincial hockey representative Mr Nation has put together the Hawke's Bay team that will take on a New Zealand invitational side in the match, hosted by Napier's Park Island.

"Everyone in the team has been involved with the Findlays, either through playing with Graeme or having some association through rep hockey."

Meanwhile, Mr McAleese took just three days to assemble a "diverse" team of junior, current and former Black Sticks.

Mr McAleese, who has played more than 200 games for the Black Sticks, first met Mr Findlay at the age of 13, where they played for Taradale Hockey Club.

"He was a mentor. He took me under his wing."

Over the years, he had become close with the Findlays, who were one of the region's most cherished sporting families.

"[Ms Nilsson-Findlay] would do anything to help out. She's always there, watching the kids play, she's an absolute sporting sweetheart."

Saturday's event will also feature an auction, raffle and sausage sizzle.

The 2.30pm Findlay Family Benefit Match will be preceded by children's games, with teams captained by each of the four Findlay children.

Entry will cost a gold coin donation and spectators are asked to wear pink in support.