A Ukrainian refugee who dreams of becoming a racing driver is elated – after receiving gifts from his hero Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The Sunday Mirror told five months ago how Roman Burko showed remarkable grit as missiles rained down near his home. The brave eight-year-old melted hearts by telling us he wanted to be a Formula 1 ace like Lewis.
Last week we met up with Roman at his new home in Poland and handed over a package from seven-times champ Lewis, 37.
It included a signed cap, F1 Monopoly, a model of his helmet and a note from his Mercedes team hailing him as an “amazing supporter”. Beaming Roman thanked Lewis, while mum Ivanna joked her son will be the “coolest in his class”.
The family have settled in Poland and Roman was greeted at his new school with gifts from classmates. He has learnt the language and is happy to live somewhere without air raid sirens, said mum Ivanna.
Roman said: “It is nice here. My favourite thing is the town swimming pool because of the slides.”
Proud Ivanna, 29, added: “Roman likes it here but he always reminds me that we’ll be going home soon. When it comes, that will be an unforgettable day.
“Roman is confident and brave. He was quiet initially at school, but has made friends and joins in with everything.
“His favourite subject is mathematics and he has joined in with things, like acting out a rock band performance.”
Ivanna says she enjoys her job at a ceramics factory in Bolesławiec but admits her “heart and thoughts are always in Ukraine ”.
She longs to be reunited with husband Volodymyr, who the family visited this month when he was granted 10 days leave.
It was their first trip home and Ivanna wept as she showed footage of the reunion in the border village of Shehyni.
She said: “It was amazing to see him. He did not talk about what he has seen – he says I don’t need to know. He had extreme fatigue and said they have been using stimulant injections to keep awake.
“Roman was very happy to see his dad. He didn’t want to go back – it was hard.”
