Our Better Breathing Heroes

Josh Brodie

As a child, Josh was told by a doctor that he should give up his dream of becoming a professional sportsman, as his asthma would be a permanent barrier to success. Josh proved him wrong, eventually playing cricket professionally for Wellington from 2008 to 2014. Now a Club Manager for Les Mills, Josh attributes his success to learning how to manage his asthma well, and then building up his own fitness, which improved his overall lung health.

Josh says of his experiences: “I didn’t give up on that dream and I want other Kiwi kids who have asthma and dreams of playing sport to know that it is possible. I was that kid who woke his parents in the middle of the night because I couldn’t breathe, but I went on to play for the Wellington Firebirds. With determination, it can happen.”

Josh wants to encourage people living with asthma to keep striving for their goals and to embrace the benefits of exercise. He is also aiming to raise $50,000 for the Foundation as he builds up to and completes the Taupō Ironman race in March 2024.

Nick Ashill

Wellington marketing professor and ultra-marathon runner Nick Ashill is one of the Foundation’s most committed and inspiring supporters. Not only has he raised thousands for our work, he has inspired people all over the world with his story of recovery, courage and forgiveness.

In 2022 he completed the final leg of a 5,400km fundraising run for the Foundation across the US. He began this run in 2017, but it was cut short after he was seriously injured in a hit and run accident. Nick needed 16 surgeries, and had to learn to walk, and then run again, before returning to finish his run.

Nick now has a new goal in sight: a 4000km run across Australia from Perth to Sydney in March 2024 to raise funds for the Foundation. He has begun training for this newest adventure and, for Breathe Better September, he is undertaking a special challenge as part of the build-up. Nick aims to break his personal record of running non-stop for 24 hours straight, in a bid to raise funds and awareness for respiratory disease in New Zealand.