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Riders hit road in memory of campaigning reporter

A group of motorbike fanatics will don their leathers to take part in a charity ride this weekend in memory of an inspirational young journalist who lost his fight against leukaemia.

Huddersfield Examiner reporter Adrian Sudbury died in August 2008 at the age of 27 following a battle with the illness.

Adrian became known around the world for his award-winning Baldy’s Blog and for his campaign for compulsory classes about bone marrow, blood and organ donation to be added to the sixth form curriculum.

His legacy is the Register and Be A Lifesaver scheme, which the Anthony Nolan Trust now runs with NHS Blood and Transplant. The project trains volunteer presenters to deliver talks in sixth forms and colleges, making young people aware of how they could help save lives through donation.

Race organiser Hannah Wales who is a volunteer on the scheme said: “I got involved with Anthony Nolan after reading about Adrian’s campaign.

“I wanted to do something which would honour his memory and also raise funds. I named the event Av’ It For Adrian because it’s the motto of biker group Tarmac Terrorists, which I’m part of.

“Although Adrian died, his transplant gave him an extra year with his family and, for many people, a transplant’s a successful cure.

“There are still 37,000 people in the world whose only chance of survival is a stem cell transplant.

“Adrian wanted them to have the same chance he did and he believed that if more people knew the facts about donation, more would sign up as donors.”

Adrian received a bone marrow transplant through the Anthony Nolan Trust, which gave him an extra year of life before the complex cancer returned.

His campaign was backed by senior politicians and a bone marrow clinic was held even in parliament.

The ride takes place on Sunday 31 July through the Yorkshire countryside.