The 27-year-old Huddersfield Examiner reporter — who dedicated the last four months of his life to raising awareness of bone marrow donations – died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Adrian was diagnosed with leukaemia in November 2006.

It was later identified he had two distinctive types of the disease at the same time – one a classic acute myeloid leukaemia and the other an unusual chronic form which doctors had never seen together before, making it difficult to treat.

Despite undergoing a bone marrow transplant in May 2007, Adrian's body rejected the bone marrow and the cancer returned.

In May this year, after learning the cancer was terminal and he had just months to live, Adrian made it his mission to raise awareness of bone marrow donations to give other suffers a chance of survival.

Inspirational

The inspirational reporter began campaigning to get more people to sign up as bone marrow donors and make the Government ensure all young people in the UK — especially 17 and 18-year-olds — are educated about donation as part of the school curriculum.

Throughout his campaign, Adrian won the hearts of thousands of people including politicians and regular readers of his online blog — Baldy's Blog — which offered an insight into his life, illness and final mission.

Highlights of the campaign included delivering an 11,301-signature petition backing his bid to have young people educated about bone marrow donation to 10 Downing Street and gaining support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

As a result of Adrian's hard work, when the school term starts in September the Government will be sending out education packs about blood, bone marrow and organ donation to all schools and colleges in UK.

Battle

And although Adrian's battle with leukaemia is over, his campaign will live on as Baldy's Blog readers have pulled together to create a Facebook group — 'Adrian's Army' — who will continue to promote the importance of bone marrow donations.

On Wednesday morning an emotional post appeared on Baldy's Blog containing a message from Adrian's parents, Keith and Kay Sudbury.

It read: "Every parent thinks their son or daughter is special and we are no different.

"Adrian touched all who knew him. We're very proud of all his achievements in tragically such a short time.

"Kay and I hope that all Adrian's good work will be continued by all those who knew and loved him."

• Adrian's family will hold a private family funeral followed by a service of remembrance at Sheffield Cathedral on a date to be confirmed.

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