A MOTORHOME hire offered a free support vehicle to help a “big sister” and friend of Barnaby Webber who is running an ultramarathon to raise money for the foundation set up in his honour.

Taunton Motorhome Hire, based at the Chelston Business Park in Wellington, will provide a vehicle free of charge for 24-year-old Emily Yap who will join the Race to the Stones 100km ultramarathon in July.

Emily, who was like a “big sister” to Barnaby, will run from Lewknor to Avebury to raise money for the Barnaby Webber Foundation.

Carol Smith, Emily’s mum, said the support vehicle will allow Emily to sleep before and after the race, allow the family to cook food for her, and travel the race path.

When she contacted Taunton Motorhome Hire to request a quote she was told they could have a motorhome for the weekend of the race free of charge.

Carol also said: “Barney was my son’s closest friend from age two until Barney was killed on June 13, 2023, and he was like a second younger brother to Emily.

“Barney’s killing is the most horrific act I have experienced and made me doubt human nature and wonder how one individual could act in such a brutal and unprovoked manner to other human beings.

“Emily is now just over 18 weeks away from the ultramarathon, Race to the Stones, which she will run on July 13, 2024.

“To date, she has raised £2,460 towards the Barnaby Webber Foundation. We are now at the point of starting to explore the logistics of the race weekend.

“We had decided that a motorhome would provide a perfect support vehicle - allowing Em to sleep before and after the race, allow us to cook food for her, and to travel the race path, stopping at various points to support her.

“With the race in the peak summer months, we were expecting a hefty quote to hire such a vehicle and felt this would make hiring one financially prohibitive.

“However, I contacted Taunton Motorhome Hire, based at the Chelston Business Park in Wellington, and requested a quote.

“As soon as I explained to Craig Thomas at Taunton Motorhome Hire, what I was looking for and why, he offered for us to have a motorhome for the weekend of the race for no charge.

“This truly has shown us the kindness of some people and how many people have been impacted by Barney’s death.”

Craig said: “We were happy to help, and she [Carol] was in a bit of a jam so we thought ‘why not?’ “She was asking to hire it, but we never got to that stage because my wife and I just decided they could have it for the weekend.

“It’s just good to do things locally. We were absolutely pleased to help and very happy to be involved.”