Ukrainian refugee's friends raise cash for trip home

Nadia said she was "overwhelmed at the generosity" of her son's schoolfriends

A mother and son who fled Ukraine said it meant "the world" for him to visit home over Christmas thanks to a fundraising campaign by his friends.

Nadia and Theodore, nine, have been living in Greater Manchester since the Russian invasion began.

Theodore was reunited with his father and the rest of his family after he and his friends did a sponsored camp out.

The six schoolfriends are now cycling to raise cash for children affected by the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Nadia told BBC North West Tonight her family were "overwhelmed at the generosity" of his her son's friends.

"Actually it means all the world to us," she said, shortly after returning from the trip.

"It is so amazing when children of that age are thinking of the future and thinking of what is happening in the world."

Theodore and his friends are now taking on a virtual cycle for children affected by the Israel-Gaza war

Theodore said his favourite things about the journey were "seeing a lot of my family" and getting to room share with his father.

The camp-out fundraiser also helped Theodore return to Ukraine in the summer holidays.

His friend Liam, who came up with the idea, also set their latest challenge to virtually cycle the distance between Manchester and the Middle East - about 2,400 miles (3,860 km) - to raise money for clothes and toys for children in Gaza.

Nine-year-old Liam said: "I just felt as if it's unfair. We need to do another thing for other people as well."

He said this one was "probably" harder than the camp-out challenge.

Alan Sherliker, who is hosting Nadia and Theodore, said it was "tremendous" what the boys were doing

His mother Gemma said she was "so proud" of the boys.

She said it brought "tears to my eyes" the way they all got involved.

The group of six fundraisers have currently notched up more than 500 miles.

"If you keep on going we'll make it and it will be a joy," said James, one of the fundraisers.

The group did an outdoor ride alongside Alan Sherliker, who has been hosting Nadia and Theodore.

"We did ten miles along the River Mersey. It's a tremendous thing that they doing," he said.

"It is a lot of effort and it's worthwhile."

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