Barry: Adrian’s message lives on

Aug 27 2008 By Barry Gibson

SUDDERS’ death was a horrible tragedy. But many positive things came from the way he dealt with his illness.

Most of all, Adrian succeeded in browbeating government ministers into promising to teach teenagers about bone marrow donation.

Thousands of lives could be saved as a result. Indeed it’s heartening to think that a child who hasn’t even been born yet will one day be rescued from the clutches of leukaemia because of Adrian’s efforts.

On a smaller level, his illness forced me down to the blood clinic for the first time in my life.

Sudders had dozens of blood transfusions during his illness. Without the selflessness of strangers, he never would have made it as far as he did.

I’m not proud to say I only started giving blood when one of my friends became seriously ill.

But at least I’ve started.

The need for blood is constant and – with so many people disqualified for medical reasons – it’s up to the rest of us to give what we can.

Visit www.blood.co.uk, find your nearest clinic and get down there.