Whanganui touch tournament honours Brooklyn, raises cancer awareness

The Brooklyn Battle Touch Tournament in Whanganui drew record numbers in its 14th consecutive outing. Photo / Matt Moore

The annual Brooklyn Battle Touch Tournament in Whanganui continues to grow in teams, spectators and interest 14 years on.

The tournament began in 2011 in Palmerston North in support of Whanganui boy Brooklyn Hati-Bennett after his cancer diagnosis.

It was courtesy of the Brooklyn Love Foundation, set up by Brooklyn’s family, most notably Ngareta and Dominic Patea.

Brooklyn died in 2012, aged 11, but the tournament has continued in his memory.

The 14th tournament, held at Springvale Park on January 18, brought 46 teams from across the country to compete in honour of Brooklyn.

“It was absolutely fabulous, more numbers than anticipated which seems to happen every year,” Ngareta Patea said.

“We had cars parked for miles.”

Patea estimated there were 2000-2500 players, referees and spectators.

Among the players were the likes of former All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder and media personality Te Aorere Pewhairangi, with Milner-Skudder being one of the ambassadors for the foundation.

“Nehe often provides support, whether it is sponsoring a family or giving some of his playing gear, and he treats it like a normal day,” Patea said.

Milner-Skudder and Pewhairangi’s side, Wairere Whanau, won the open men’s category in the last game of the day.

Former All Blacks and Hurricanes player Nehe Milner-Skudder turned out for one of the 46 teams that competed in the Brooklyn Battle Touch Tournament. Photo / Matt Moore

Patea said the tournament offered something unique that could not be found in other competitive tournaments.

“One of the things you’ll find when you attend any of the tournaments, it is not like a normal tournament - it is very family-orientated,” Patea said.

“For the game of touch, it is a generational sport - you could have grandparents, their kids and their mokopuna on the pitch.

“The teams are competitive but are there for the cause and you can tell that by the camaraderie they have with each other.”

All of the funds raised go to families who have a child with cancer, as well as bereaved families.

Patea said the tournament and foundation would not be where they were without the help of sponsors such as One NZ, Fleet Australasia and Native Sounds, as well as the countless volunteers.

She said the motivation behind the foundation and tournament was to raise awareness.

“One of the things we promote leading up to, during and post the event is raising awareness around child cancer but also around how we, as different communities scattered across the country, can lend support for families going through that traumatic journey.

“The messages are certainly getting out there. We want to bring people together and use that as a vehicle to drive awareness.”

The foundation planned to extend next year’s event by adding golf on the second day.

“I think about our Brooklyn; he was so talented in a number of different sports so we do try and promote inter-generational participation and try to encourage positive wellbeing,” Patea said.

“Brooklyn really loved the game of golf so we thought we might try and give that a go next year, given that lots of teams stay overnight.”