When Samantha Webber laced up her running shoes, she turned a personal challenge into a moment of awareness in support of the one million Kiwis living with asthma.
In early November, she completed the Auckland Half Marathon with her partner, using the event to draw attention to a condition she has managed since childhood.
Samantha has lived with asthma her entire life, yet sport has always been important to her.
“I’ve always enjoyed sport, even with asthma,” she says.
“People often assume you can’t or shouldn’t run, but that idea never matched my experience.”
While she knows that exercise is one of many possible triggers for asthma, the life-long condition presents differently for everyone.
“Asthma has shaped my life, sure, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing the things I love,” Samantha says.
Misconceptions about asthma are common, she says.
“I’ve often found myself correcting assumptions about fitness, exertion, and the day-to-day realities of managing asthma.”
With one in eight New Zealand children affected, she believes better understanding is overdue.
“There’s still a lot people don’t realise – about symptoms, triggers, and how unpredictable it can be.”
That unpredictability became all too real in 2024 when Samantha’s friends lost their young son, Ethan, after a sudden asthma attack while at an emergency department.
“It was heartbreaking,” she says.
“It made me think more seriously about how quickly asthma can turn.”
The half marathon became a way to recognise that reality while contributing to the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s work in research and education.
“Raising awareness is vital, and asthma remains far too common and far too dangerous in New Zealand.”
On the day of the half marathon, Samantha found the experience both steadying and reflective.
“Crossing the bridge felt especially meaningful,” she says. “I thought about Ethan a lot.”
Samantha’s initial fundraising target was $500. By the time she finished, she had raised nearly $2000.
