After their son died from leukaemia, Keith and Kay Sudbury dedicated their own lives to saving the lives of others.

Now the parents of the late Examiner journalist Adrian Sudbury have been honoured with an award in Parliament.

Adrian, known as Sudders, died of the bone marrow cancer in 2008 aged 27.

But before his death he campaigned for young people to be educated about bone marrow, blood and organ donation.

And Keith and Kay carried on the good work by setting up the Register and Be a Lifesaver (R&Be) campaign – part of the Anthony Nolan donor charity – in Adrian’s memory.

On Monday the pair, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, were awarded the Shirley Nolan Award for Special Recognition.

Keith said: “Our son Adrian had a very complicated form of leukaemia and a bone marrow transplant was his only chance of survival.

Anthony Nolan found a match from a 30-year-old German woman who kindly donated her stem cells. We are eternally grateful of this and as a result, we had a wonderful extra year with Adrian.

“Kay and I are very proud to have been awarded the Shirley Nolan Award for Special Recognition.

“We could only be here today because of the passion and commitment of all the Register and Be a Lifesaver volunteers, who give inspirational awareness raising presentations to 16-18 year old students ‘busting the myths’ about donation.”

He added: “In accepting this award, because of a wish that Adrian had five years ago and which Kay and I have continued, this is also in recognition of all of our wonderful volunteers, many of whom have become close friends.”

The award is named after Shirley Nolan, mother of Anthony, who founded the world’s first ever bone marrow donor register in 1974.

Henny Braund, chief executive at Anthony Nolan, said: “Adrian was a phenomenal young man with a strong vision to educate young people about donation.

“Keith and Kay have continued Adrian’s legacy and have been instrumental in the growth and impact of Register and Be a Lifesaver.

“So many people with blood cancer will find a lifesaving bone marrow donor because of Keith and Kay’s tireless campaigning and we are delighted that they have won this award.”

For more call 0303 303 0303 or visit www.anthonynolan.org