FORMER Taunton School pupil Emily Yap is running an ultramarathon in memory of her late friend and ‘brother’ Barnaby Webber. 

The money raised will go to a foundation set up in Barnaby’s memory by his family. 

Barnaby, known to his friends as Barney, was killed in Nottingham on June 13 along with his friend and fellow student Grace O’Malley Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates.

After celebrating the end of exams during his first year at Nottingham University, Barnaby was stabbed to death while walking home in the early hours of the morning. 

Barnaby, along with Emily and her younger brother Tom, were all pupils at Taunton School and Barnaby played cricket for Bishops Hull.

Emily and Barnaby’s families have always been close, united through the friendship between Barnaby and Emily’s younger brother Tom. 

Barnaby and Tom grew up together, having known each other since nursery. 

Tom said that ‘brother pretty much sums up’ the relationship he had with Barnaby and Emily considered him ‘family’.

In Barnaby’s memory, Emily will be running 100km non-stop from Lewknor to Avebury, as part of the Race to the Stones ultramarathon, which follows one of Britain’s oldest paths.

She will complete this in July next year, the day before her graduation ceremony from Cardiff University.

Emily said: “The absolute worst thing that you could ever imagine has happened and so this does not seem anything compared to that.

“I did not and I do not understand what happened, why it happened, why it was him. I wanted to do something for the foundation to remember him and to respect him.”

Despite describing herself as a ‘non-runner’, Emily comes from a sporting background and has already started training. 

In just two weeks, she smashed her fund-raising goal. At the time of writing, she had raised £1,325 and hoped to raise up to £2,000 by the time of her ultramarathon.

The money raised by the foundation will help to provide support and inclusion for young people under 18 and will also fund cricket clubs, to encourage young people to pursue Barnaby’s favourite sport.

Valdo Calocane, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied the allegations of murder.

The Crown Prosecution Service is currently deciding whether or not to accept the plea or push ahead with murder charges. He is due to appear in court again in January. 

Anyone wanting to donate to Emily’s cause, should visit the GoFundMe page titled ‘Race to the Stones for Barnaby Webber’.