A 'skate-obsessed' boy from Ukraine has smiled for the first time since being forced to leave his war-torn homeland. Seven-year-old Elijah and his family left for Manchester earlier this year and were left without any of their belongings and were forced to leave friends and family behind.
Having struggled to adapt to life in the UK, Elijah's mother found out about the Altrincham Speed Skating Club and contacted the club to see if her son, who was a dedicated skater back home, could join in their monthly sessions.
The club's members discovered that Elijah and his mum travelled two hours by public transport specifically to attend the session at Altrincham Ice Rink. Club Secretary Sally Sherard-Bornshin said his mother expressed how she had seen Elijah smile for the first time since leaving Ukraine.
