Boy raises funds for research into sister's cancer

Nine-year-old Mateo is hoping to stay awake for 24 hours, switching between his two favourite hobbies, knitting and swimming

The brother of a teenage photographer who inspired Catherine, Princess of Wales, during her fight against a rare cancer has started a fundraising challenge in her memory.

Liz Hatton, 17, from Harrogate, died in November from a desmoplastic small round cell tumour after becoming known for her photography bucket list.

Nine-year-old Mateo is raising money with a 24-hour swimming and knitting challenge for research into palliative care for young people with similar terminal cancers.

Mateo thinks his sister would be "really proud of me for raising money for not just her, but for her cancer".

Money is being raised through the charity Capture, set up by Liz's family to fund research into desmoplastic small round cell tumours and the care given to young sufferers.

Liz and Mateo's mother Vicky Robayna said: "For those young people it is really important that they make the most out of each and every day because the future is really uncertain but there's currently no research out there on young people's views of palliative care."

She said Liz's consultant, Dr Bob Phillips, gave her "real choices about how to live the rest of her life".

"She knew that he would go all-out to find a solution that didn't involve her having to spend ages in hospital, so she would definitely approve of us trying to give that gift to other young people," she added.

Mateo and Liz's mum, Vicky, says raising money for palliative care research is "really important"

Mateo said the idea for the "Splash and Stitch" event came from combining both of his hobbies.

"I didn't know how to knit until a year ago when one of my favourite teachers at school taught me how to knit and crochet," he said.

"I guess it just relaxes me."

Swimming is special to Mateo, his mum added, as Liz watched his first session with Harrogate District swimming squad the night before she died.

"Unlike Mateo, she was not a fan of swimming, so she was so so proud of him for being such a good swimmer," Vicky said.

Mateo added: "She was just truly amazing - what she did with her camera, her supportiveness."

Mateo says his big sister, Liz, was "truly amazing"

Friends from the knitting club at Mateo's school are lending their support and visited for the first two hours of the challenge which was due to last from 14:00 on Friday until 14:00 on Saturday.

"I think if Liz was here she would really like what we're doing and she would be really proud of Mateo and everyone who supported her, because she was a very nice person," schoolfriend Paloma said.

Mateo's friends from his school knitting club joined in the start of the fundraising marathon

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