Brothers run half-marathon between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley for Ukraine

Brothers Aleks and Isaac, who are of Ukranian descent, completed the half-marathon in aid of Unicef to help the children of Ukraine in their hour of need.

Club officials at Ewood and Turf Moor ensured Aleks, 11, and seven-year-old Isaac, from Whalley, were given a hero's welcome at either end of the journey.

Mum Daria Neklesa-Ford, who used to work for the Lancashire Telegraph, has told of how the boys, both keen footballers themselves, were "desperate", on seeing the conflict unfold in Kyiv and beyond, to make a contribution.

Her father came to the UK as a teenage refugee from Ukraine after the Second World War, having lived through the dreadful 'Holodmor' famine, triggered by Stalin in the 1930s, and then becoming slave labour for the Nazis after the 1941 invasion.

Daria, who is married to Bolton School headteacher Nic, said: "As a child, I often asked him what scared him most about the war.

"Each time I asked, he was able to give a different answer.

"His experience of war was filled with fear, hunger and a desperate uncertainty about what the future would hold.

"It was a difficult time made better thanks to the kindness he was shown by the British people. That kindness enabled him to rebuild his life and put the horrors of the war behind him.

"He married, had a family and lived out the remainder of his life happy and contented.

"As a family we remain grateful for the care that was shown to him during that time of great need. We would like to pass on that kindness to the next generation of Ukrainians who are now sadly experiencing war."

Newspaper and TV coverage of the latest Ukraine invasion inspired the boys to come up with the sponsored run, which was backed by Rovers and the Clarets in turn.

Their Just Giving page is still taking donations via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daria-neklesa