Running for awareness: Toni-Anne's mission

A personal connection to a powerful cause

When Toni-Anne signed up for the Auckland Round the Bays 2026 event, she wasn’t just lacing up her running shoes for fitness. She was stepping forward to raise awareness for the 1 in 6 Kiwis living with hearing loss — a community that she holds close to her heart.

In her work, Toni-Anne supports families of Deaf children, helping them understand and navigate life with hearing loss. While she doesn’t have lived experience of deafness herself, she sees first-hand how early support, awareness, and community understanding can change lives.

“I work with families from the time their child is diagnosed with permanent hearing loss,” she says. “My role is to make sure everyone around the child is equipped to support them — from communication strategies to accessing the right services.”

Raising awareness beyond her day job

Toni-Anne first discovered the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation while scrolling through social media. Intrigued by the charity’s focus on awareness and prevention, she decided to take part in the Round the Bays event as a fundraiser for the charity.

Running has long been a source of enjoyment and balance for Toni-Anne. “I like running for personal enjoyment, mental health, and connection,” she shares. “When I saw the post about the event on Facebook, I thought this is something nice I can do to give back.” She admits not having been familiar with the Foundation.

“But when I looked into what the charity does, it resonated with me. Awareness is such a key part of the work I do too.”

For Toni-Anne, joining the event was a simple yet meaningful way to make a difference. Her participation highlights that you don’t have to be personally affected by hearing loss to support the cause. Everyone can play a part in helping raise awareness and improve access to hearing health support.

Highlighting the gaps in regional support

Working in Northland, Toni-Anne knows the challenges families face when it comes to accessing hearing services.

“Up here, accessibility is a huge issue,” she explains. “Many families live in remote areas, and getting to audiology appointments can mean return trips of four hours or more. Internet access can be limited, and transport or financial barriers make it even harder.”

Her hope is that initiatives like those run by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation will help bridge these gaps — bringing more outreach, education, and resources to regional communities where they’re needed most.

A small step that sparks change

For Toni-Anne, Round the Bays isn’t just about running — it’s about connection. It’s about showing that awareness and advocacy belong to everyone, and that even small actions can make a big difference. If you would like to support Toni-Anne’s fundraiser, you can donate on her fundraising page.

Support Toni-Anne

Get involved

You don’t need to be a runner or have a hearing loss to make a difference. Join Toni-Anne and other supporters taking part in Round the Bays to raise awareness for the 1 in 6 Kiwis living with hearing loss. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation is still looking for participants to join their growing team in all 3 locations (Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland). Every step helps create a more inclusive and supportive Aotearoa for people of all hearing abilities.

Join the team