Body combat marathon takes place in memory of murdered Alison Morrison

Men and women worked up a sweat and gritted their teeth to take part in a three-hour marathon of body combat at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth yesterday.

Leading the gruelling fitness regime was Bianca Brathwaite, a body combat instructor from Waterlooville whose auntie, Alison Morrison, was brutally killed.

Mrs Morrison, who was originally from Bedhampton, was stabbed 40 times in a London street by her crazed neighbour Trevor Gibbon in December 2014.

Gibbon was jailed for 28 years for what the judge called his ‘merciless act of vengeance.’

Bianca, 25, has used fitness to help deal with the grief and wanted to raise money to fight knife crime.

Around £2,000 is expected to be raised to The Ben Kinsella Trust, which aims to tackle the root causes of knife crime.

Bianca, of Meadway, said: ‘Even if we can prevent some of it, then that will be a good start. There’s been an absolutely amazing turnout.’

Punching the air yesterday were Alison’s sisters, Paula McLean and Julie Brathwaite, who both live in Waterlooville.

Paula said: ‘Alison would be up there on the stage.

‘She was very competitive. She would be up there with a microphone.’

She added: ‘Bianca has turned round what was a horrible year into something positive.’

Julie added: ‘I am so proud of her. It’s amazing all these people turned up.’

Alice Ware, 26, of Harrier Close, Horndean, wanted to support her best friend, Bianca.

‘I have been with her since she found out about her auntie,’ she said.

‘It’s been quite tough – she’s come a long way.’

She said people carrying knives was ‘disgusting’.

Alice added: ‘I don’t think people should be able to get away with carrying knives.’

Kia Thomson, 24, of Warfield Avenue, Waterlooville, said: ‘It’s an amazing cause. Bianca has worked so hard to put it all together.’