Foam-tastic day for a run

Fundraisers took part in the second Naomi House and Jacksplace Foam Fest on Southsea Common on Saturday.

Dressed in bright clothes and fancy dress, participants dodged, dived and climbed their way across the 3km course – all while raising cash for the hospice, in Sutton Scotney.

First over the finish line was cancer survivor Adam Brombley, 16, of Birch Tree Drive, Emsworth.

Adam, winner of The News’ Inspiration of the Year in 2015, said: ‘Somebody I met while in hospital, Phoebe Craig, spent her last days in Naomi House.

‘I was running it for her. I think what the hospice does is really good.

‘Luckily I didn’t have to use their services but for the people that do have to use them. I think it’s really good what they do.’

Adam underwent gruellling chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and met Phoebe, five, in hospital.

Amber Binns, 25, a spin instructor at the Marriott Hotel in North Harbour, went along with some of her class.

She said: ‘I went with some of my spinners to do it.

‘It was a great morning. I’ve supported loads of charities and it’s for a great cause. It was a great team-building exercise too.’

Organisers have said between £25,000 and £30,000 will have been raised from the event.

Paul Morgan, Naomi House’s head of fundraising, added: ‘It’s fantastic that we manage to get people out.

‘It’s a family fun event so it’s great to see families take part, mums and daughters, dads and sons, and it’s really lovely to have someone of those people take part who have benefitted from, in some shape or form, the use of Naomi House.

‘Naomi House started in the community, it’s the community that sustains us and it’s great when we have such a fan event for that community.’

It was the second event and was launched on New Year’s Day.

Jill Chapman, 34, travelled to the event from Bracklesham Bay – and was dressed as cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

She said: ‘I really enjoyed it, it was the first time I’ve done something like it.

‘I normally do the Race for Life but it’s the first time I’ve done the Foam Fest.

‘I saw an advertisement on Facebook and I was doing it to support the cause.

‘I heard all about Naomi House and Jacksplace and thought why not?

‘Loads of people dressed up, with lots of Where’s Wally characters and jockeys with hobby horses.

‘It was really good fun watching everyone get into the atmosphere.’