A SCHOOLBOY who raised more than £750,000 for a hospital by running with celebrities has been awarded the Diana Legacy Award.

The award given in memory of Princess Diana, is presented every two years to 20 young people from around the world who the judging panel believe have made the greatest impact to social change.

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George with Earl Spencer

One of those 20 was 12-year-old George Mathias from Eccleston for his amazing fundraising all to thank Alder Hey Children Hospital for saving his brother's life after he was born prematurely.

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George with younger brother James

Those honoured go on a three day course receiving training on media skills, social media presence, personal appearance and business from companies such as HSBC, John Lewis and Instagram.

The course concludes with a personal invitation to afternoon tea with Prince William at Kensington Palace, followed by the Legacy Awards at the Royal Naval College Greenwich where the winners are presented with their awards by Princess Diana’s brother Earl Charles Spencer.

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George and the other legacy award winners

De La Salle pupil George said: “I was so honoured to receive this award, and to meet the other people from all over the world who had won too.

"They had done some incredible things. It was so exciting to go to Kensington Palace to meet Prince William, I was very nervous.”

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His dad Richard Mathias, 48, added: “This was a huge honour for George to receive. It is incredible to think that only 20 people from all over the world receive this honour every two years, and for George to be one of them is really amazing for us as a family.

"We’re very proud of him and we’re sure it will inspire George to go further.

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"It was a good day for St Helens that day too as Andy Reid got his MBE from Prince William on the same day as he met George. St Helens representing well down South."

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Pride of Britain winner George is now raising money for The Prince's Trust by doing his one mile runs with celebrities.

For more information follow his Facebook page @RunWithGeorgeUK

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