Crowd gives $10k for Findlays

SHOW OF SUPPORT: A crowd of about 1000 people turned out in support of the Findlay family at Napier's Park Island on Saturday. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

The hockey stadium at Park Island was awash with the colour pink at the weekend, as about 1000 people raised almost $10,000 for a Hawke's Bay sporting family in its hour of need.
The Findlay Family Benefit Match saw a team of New Zealand hockey players take on a Hawke's Bay side at the stadium on Saturday, in a game featuring some of the country's top players.
Mother of four and Taradale High School PE teacher Angela Nilsson-Findlay is a well-known sports volunteer in Hawke's Bay, managing and coaching school, representative and academy hockey programmes as well as playing the sport herself. 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 Saturday's match after they learned Hawke's Bay-bred Black Stick Shea McAleese was inviting players to Napier for his 30th birthday.
Mr McAleese said about $10,000 was raised from gate-takings and auctioned items at the event.
"Ange was amazing, she loved it and the whole family was blown away by the day itself. It couldn't have gone any better really."
He played in a New Zealand invitational team featuring junior, current and former Black Sticks, which scooped an 8-4 win against the Hawke's Bay selection team in the high-scoring match.
Hawke's Bay-based Black Sticks women's team player Emily Naylor, who also played on the New Zealand side, said the match was "good fun".
"We're really pleased, the Findlays just loved it and really appreciated the community turning out to support them."
1000 spectators from across sporting codes took over the hockey stadium, wearing pink as a show of support for the family.
Hockey manager at Hawke's Bay Hockey, Dean Hulls, said temporary bleachers had to be brought in to accommodate the massive crowd, which are usually only necessary for hockey test matches.
The match was also preceded by children's games, with teams captained by each of the four Findlay children.
"I think for Ange to see her kids involved, to see the crowd supporting her kids, that was really moving for her."
Meanwhile, a Givealittle page set up for the family last week will also provide a welcome boost.
The page had also raised more than $3000 last night. To donate go to: givealittle.co.nz/cause/findlay
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