A campaign set up in memory of a regional daily journalist which has already seen eight lives saved is set to go nationwide.

Before his death from leukaemia at the age of 27 in August 2008, former Huddersfield Daily Examiner digital editor Adrian Sudbury had begun a major scheme to raise awareness about bone marrow donation, which has since seen thousands of students sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.

The Be a Lifesaver and Register campaign has already seen eight matches for terminally ill patients found by the campaign – which carries out talks to students in the Midlands, Yorkshire, Merseyside, London and Bristol.

Now the scheme will be introduced to the rest of the country, with Adrian’s father Keith serving as national strategic advisor and mother Kay working as a volunteer for the cause speaking in schools across the land.

Before his death Adrian documented his battle with the disease on this internet via his Baldy’s Blog website.

He also presented an 11,000 signature petition to then Prime Minister Gordon Brown aimed at making lessons on organ donation comuplsory in schools.

Keith said: “Eight students have come up as a match.

“They have donated and potentially eight lives have been saved, and that is a tremendous legacy.

“It can only get better.”

Meanwhile, regional journalists from the Examiner’s parent company Trinity Mirror have been nominated for two Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards.

Neil Benson, editorial director for Trinity Mirror Regionals, and the Birmingham Mail editorial team, have been shortlisted for Regional Journalist of the Year.