A PRIMARY school pupil has run 5.5km during his lunchbreak in remembrance of his grandad who passed away on the same day last year.

Matteo Iavazzo, aged 9, dedicated his lunchbreak to run 45 laps around Ysgol Gellifor, where he is a Year 4 pupil, for his Nonno (Italian for grandad), Nicola Iavazzo, born near Naples, Italy, who died due to blood cancer.

Genevieve Dreiling, Matteo’s mother, said: “This was entirely Matteo’s idea. He had come up with a number of ideas that changed over the year; when Ysgol Gellifor offered to support him with a run around the school he decided to go ahead with it.

“We’re really proud of Matteo, he has done so well. He has set up his own Just Giving page and researched cancer charities to donate to. His Nonno would be proud.”

Matteo, who has written of his run on his Just Giving page, said: “In February last year, my Nonno was taken to hospital.

“The doctors didn't know what was wrong. All tests came back inconclusive, so we all thought that he would get better and come home to us.

“We were wrong. Inside his body, cancer was spreading and he died on May 10.

“After he died we received the results of the final tests which confirmed that he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma (blood cancer). Unfortunately, it was found too late and it had already stolen him away from us.

“Losing my Nonno was one of the hardest times of my life so far. More and more I hear about cancer taking lives and it really upsets me. I wanted to do something to mark a year since my Nonno's passing. I have chosen to do a 5km run, which means 25 laps around the school field at lunch time.”

Matteo, who is very sporty, enjoys football, running, climbing and sailing, and plays for Mold Alexander and Airbus Academy U9s teams.

Matteo can be seen completing his final lap as if he were starting the race, before his classmates joined him on a lap of honour.

Matteo is looking to raise £500 for his run to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.

His mother said: “He’s very quick but I hope he doesn’t run as fast as usual! I’ve told him to pace himself; he has completed a 4km run before so I’m sure he’ll do well.”

To donate to Matteo’s Just Giving page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matteo-iavazzo