Granada boy, 9, gives his First Communion money to child cancer charity

Iñaki, like many other kids of his age, will be celebrating – or have already celebrated – their confirmation this spring which, in Spain, always culminates in a huge family party, normally hiring a restaurant hall and guests dressed up to the nines.

Girls being confirmed normally wear white dresses, similar to wedding gowns, and boys wear sailor suits. 

The actual confirmation ceremony, before the party, is held in a group with children who have all studied together at catechism, or Sunday school – such as the girls in the above photograph.

It is an immensely popular and eagerly-awaited date for the children, who are typically aged around eight to 10, since they will become the star of the show and receive piles of presents and money from relatives and family friends.

Iñaki encouraged his own family to dig deeper than they otherwise would have done for his First Communion money – since he did not plan to keep any of it.

He has handed it over to the Asociación Relevos por la Vida contral el Cáncer Juvenil ('Relief for Life Against Cancer in Young People Association'), which helps make the trauma of this illness easier to bear and hospital stays more comfortable and fun for kids and teenagers.

The Association told him the cash would be spent on a video console and virtual reality visors to keep children entertained whilst undergoing treatment and recovering from surgery and other procedures.

Iñaki did not give a statement to the press, but spoke to youth court judge Emilio Calatayud, who writes a blog for Granada local newspaper Ideal and who told the tale in his weekly column.

Photograph: RicardoRicardo618/Wikimedia Commons