Support, Steps & Growth: When Tauranga Boxing Academy Joins the Mount Festival

The Fulton Hogan Mount Festival has been partnering with Tauranga Boxing Academy (TBA) for a few years now, and every summer the crew swaps their boxing gloves for running shoes to join us at the event. It’s honestly one of the best parts of the event, giving back to our community.

TBA works with some young people who might be having a tough time finding their place. They help them build confidence and feel like they belong somewhere. Doing something totally new, like running or walking a race, can be huge for them. It’s like a little nudge that says, “Hey, we see you, and we believe in you.” The team from TBA told us, “When young people see
someone’s got their back, it can totally change how they see themselves.”

And the kids? They love it! Some said it was something they never thought they’d even get to do, and others didn’t expect to actually enjoy it as much as they did. And it wasn’t just on the day, the buzz sticks around for ages. William, who’s 12, said, “The support from TBA made me feel included and made me want to do my best.” How good is that?

This kind of thing doesn’t just happen by chance, it’s all about communities coming together and looking out for each other. The TBA team put it well: “It’s about seeing young people not as problems to fix but as people with heaps of potential and drive.”

We chatted with some of the youth runners too. Solomon, 13, told us he was nervous but happy because he loves running with friends. “On my first run, I realised I’m more capable than I thought. Even if you can’t run, you can walk it. Everyone’s support makes you feel like you can do anything.” William joined because his mate asked him to, and he was nervous but excited and said, “Do it, and you’ll never stop.” And Dan, also 13, said he loves the challenge. “At first I
was nervous, but once I got going, I loved it and wanted to do more. Give it a go, you might surprise yourself.”

From boxing to running, these kids show what a bit of support and encouragement can do – it builds confidence and opens up new goals. We’re so proud to be working with Tauranga Boxing Academy. Seeing these young people grow and celebrate their wins is exactly why we do this!

If you’re keen to get involved, whether running, walking, or just cheering on the sidelines, there’s a spot for you at the Mount Festival.