Christchurch grandma Helen Young hopes to meet Richie McCaw before she dies

A terminally-ill grandma was overjoyed to get a special message from 'her darling' Richie McCaw.

Granddaughter Kerri-Lee Elcock has been campaigning to get McCaw to meet her grandma Helen Young since March.

"It would actually make her life to meet him," Elcock told the Herald.

"She's always been in love with him, she's always thought he's a major hottie... When he got married she was so distraught."

Elcock said doctors had advised Young didn't have long to live due to her raft of health problems.

After the Herald on Sunday approached McCaw's manager the rugby legend sent a special video message which we presented as a surprise

McCaw made a personal video for Young, a "good Canterbury person", wishing her all the best.

"I heard through your granddaughter you've had a bit of a tough time for the last wee while," he said.

"I just want to send you some best wishes and by the sounds of things you've got a great family around you who think a lot of you, who really love and care for you."

Young's daughter Joelene Anderson said her mum was lost for words when the video came on.

"She said it was brilliant. She loved the video.

"But deep down she'd still like to meet him."

The 72-year-old Christchurch woman has been obsessed with the Former All Blacks Captain since he burst onto the national rugby scene in 2001, Elcock explained.

Young had collected every photo, article and piece of memorabilia about him and plastered it over her wall at the Maidstone Care Home in Avonhead. She nicknamed him 'her husband'.

After her dad died Elcock was raised by her grandma for a few years in her teens. Getting her grandma a meeting with McCaw was a way to say thanks, the 19-year-old said.

"My nana has done a lot of things for me and I haven't done a lot for her. I just want to do something that makes her really happy before she goes."

But they might not have much more time. Young fell down a flight of stairs six years ago and is now paralysed. She's got a bad heart and regularly gets chest infections. Anderson said doctors had told her they could "lose her at any time".

Young said she loved McCaw because "he is just a great man" and she liked the way he played rugby.

She admitted she was upset when she found out he was married and her message to him was "please come and see me".

Elcock's original Facebook post has been shared almost 500 times. She had also tried contacting the Richie McCaw Facebook page and New Zealand Rugby.

Can every one please share this post!! This is my nana Helen, she is 71 turning 72 on May 7th. Her one dream in life is...

Posted by Kerri-lee Elcock on Friday, 10 March 2017