Jonjo Heuerman has had a day to remember ahead of a weekend to cherish.
The nine-year-old Hammers-mad fan was a guest of the club at Chadwell Heath, as he geared up for his spectacular charity walk from Wembley to Upton Park in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research.
He will finish in the centre-circle just before the kick-off against Liverpool in front of a sold-out Boleyn Ground crowd on Sunday afternoon - where he will be met by Chairman David Gold, who has described him "as a remarkable young man with a heart of gold".
Avram Grant was on hand to welcome Jonjo at the training ground as he arrived with dad Gary, mum Donna and sister Megan before player after player came over to say hello and wish him well. All were keen to hear at first-hand about the plans which will see him take on the cross-capital trek in memory of his nan Lyn and Bobby Moore, with both having lost their lives to bowel cancer.
Moore passed away 18 years ago today - but will never be forgotten.
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Jonjo, who perhaps rather sportingly is predicting a draw on Sunday with Thomas Hitzlsperger scoring, said: "The walk is very long and my Mummy and Daddy are helping me organise things. I want to raise £10,000 or more because my sister raised £9,500 for our local hospice in memory of my Nanny and I want to beat her amount. I am very excited."Support has grown for Jonjo's walk with England stars Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard - the latter is set to greet him alongside Scott Parker on Sunday - among those backing the plucky youngster. He has also received Royal approval, with The Queen sending her "warmest good wishes" in an official letter.
Many fans are expected to cheer on Jonjo, with the Kent-based youngster being seen off from the national stadium by club legend Sir Trevor Brooking on behalf of the Football Association and Bobby's widow Stephanie Moore MBE. He will then travel through the city, stopping in Camden and Stratford overnight on Friday and Saturday before making his way to the Boleyn Ground.
A large crowd is expected to gather around the World Cup winners' statue on the corner of Green Street and Barking Road on Sunday lunchtime where he will lay a wreath. It will then be on to the stadium where he will be greeted by the Chairman, SBOBET Chief Executive Bill Mummery and Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales just before the 1.30pm kick-off against Liverpool.
Having posed for pictures with Jonjo, West Ham midfielder Jack Collison underlined the squad's admiration. As a club and players, we are all supporting Jonjo's walk. It is obviously for a great cause. Everyone should get behind him. After all he has done, we are going to have try and reward him with a win, aren't we?"
Sir Trevor Brooking, Director of Football for The Football Association, said: "It's great to see a little lad like Jonjo taking on a challenge like this in memory of his Nan and one of our national heroes and of course raising money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, an official FA Charity Partner. I wish him and his family all the best on his walk and look forward to seeing him greeted by the fans at Upton Park on Sunday."
Stephanie Moore, who founded the Bobby Moore Fund after the legendary No6's tragic death, in 1993, said: "Supporters of the Bobby Moore Fund come in all shapes and sizes and although Jonjo is very young, he has taken on a huge challenge.
"He and his family have done a great job in organising this walk, raising vital funds for further research and increasing public awareness about bowel cancer. Jonjo is a great inspiration and I'm sure his Nan, particularly, would be very proud of him."
For more information about the Bobby Moore Fund visit www.bobbymoorefund.org or http://www.facebook.com/officialbobbymoorefund
For more information about Jonjo's walk, visit www.fornannyandbobby.piczo.com and to make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/fornannyandbobby
CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL PICTURE GALLERY OF JONJO'S DAY