A BASINGSTOKE charity has launched a new running challenge to help families in the area in need of crucial respite support.

Naomi House & Jacksplace has lcreated Run 4 Respite, a brand new virtual running distance challenge, encouraging supporters to run 105 miles in the month of March, and raise £105.

The event has been backed by renowned Great Britain long distance runner, Naomi Mitchell, and sponsored by building services engineers, the Royston Group.

£105 is enough to fund 5 hours’ worth of vital specialist care for the region’s life limited and life threatened children and young adults.

Respite care gives families the chance to regroup, to relax and to rebalance family life. Naomi House & Jacksplace offers 24 hour respite care for the whole family, through the good days, difficult days and last days. This care continues for as long as a family needs it.

GB long distance runner and friend to the charity, Naomi Mitchell, will be supporting the charity event by taking part and promoting it to her followers.

She said: “I am getting involved with Run 4 Respite this March to help raise much needed funds for Naomi House & Jacksplace, as they continue to provide critical services, for free. It’s so important that all children and young people have access to support networks and the care they need, especially during this period, where so much of our lives are restricted.”

Charlotte Patrick, events fundraiser for Naomi House & Jacksplace, added: “We are thrilled to launch this new, exciting and agile challenge, which can be completed during lockdown, on a treadmill or in a local park! We are hoping it will raise much needed funds, as well as awareness of what we do here at the hospices. We are extremely lucky to have the support of the Royston Group and Naomi Mitchell and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their involvement.”

The Royston Group are the official supporters for Run 4 Respite. Sam Cheesman, HR manager at the Royston Group, said: “We’re excited to be forging a relationship with Naomi House & Jacksplace this March, having successfully supported the charity’s London Marathon and Virtual Santa Run in the last 12 months. We strongly believe in the valuable work that Naomi House & Jacksplace do, and recognise that Run 4 Respite is the ideal event for us, as we have a strong team of willing volunteers with big hearts to take up the challenge and hopefully exceed the set target!”

Run 4 Respite is free to join, with the commitment of fundraising £105 per participant. Once signed up, participants are added to ‘Team Naomi’, Naomi House & Jacksplace’s running group, and will receive all of the benefits of being a part of this group, including virtual assistance, training support and training plans from the charity’s partner, Nick Anderson, GB Coach and Founder of ‘Running with Us’.

To sign up to Run 4 Respite, visit: www.naomihouse.org.uk/run4respite or for more information, contact Charlotte at Naomi House & Jacksplace by emailing: charlotte@naomihouse.org.uk or calling: 01962 760060.