LEUKAEMIA survivor Judith Heppenstall has been raising funds to help a charity which researches the disease.

Mrs Heppenstall, 45, from New Mill, held a coffee morning at Hepworth Village Hall yesterday to raise funds for Leukaemia Research.

The event raised £216 and was run by Mrs Heppenstall, her parents, her husband David and children Claire, 13, and Matthew, 15.

And Mrs Heppenstall admits she has been spurred on by the brave campaign of Examiner journalist Adrian Sudbury, who is dying from the disease.

Mrs Heppenstall has been in remission for six years after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2002.

She had intense chemotherapy for the cancer and now has 12-monthly check-ups. She had her latest on August 6 and was clear of the disease.

She said: “I like to do what I can to help the charity and I help out the Honley and Huddersfield branch of Leukaemia Research.

“Without the research of charities like them, the treatment I had might not have been available.

“I myself went into a medical trial during treatment because it might help others in the future.”

Mrs Heppenstall, who works in the office at Hade Edge Junior and Infant School, said she had been spurred on in her fundraising efforts by Adrian.

Adrian, 27, has battled a mix of two types of myeloid leukaemia – chronic and acute – for 18 months. Almost three months ago, he was told his condition was terminal and he launched a campaign to raise awareness about the need for more bone marrow donors.

Adrian, who has just weeks to live, has chronicled his campaign and fight with cancer in his online diary, Baldy’s Blog.

Mrs Heppenstall said: “I was thinking about Adrian when I organised this event. I have followed his blog since the start and I think it is nice for him to know that people are doing things to try and help others, like he is.”

Like Adrian, Mrs Heppenstall is sharing her story of cancer to educate others and has given a series of talks about her experiences in the Huddersfield area.

Her husband David, 47, has also been doing his bit to help leukaemia sufferers.

When his wife was diagnosed with leukaemia, he immediately became a blood donor. He discovered he had a high count of platelets – cells which regulate the clotting process.

He now donates platelets every four weeks at the National Blood Service’s donation centre in Bradford.

The procedure is different from giving blood. Mr Heppenstall has a needle placed in his arm which removes blood. This is spun in a hi-tech machine to remove the platelet cells and the rest of the blood is returned to his arm. The whole process takes about 90 minutes.

Mrs Heppenstall said: “He wished he had been a blood donor sooner. He can’t give blood if he is giving platelets, but he does it every four weeks and will keep doing it as long as he can.

“He knows how important platelets are – I needed dozens and dozens of transfusions. Without them I would not be here today because you just can’t get through your treatment without it.”

Mrs Heppenstall is urging people to follow her husband’s lead and consider becoming a blood, platelet or even bone marrow donor.

She is also appealing for donations to Leukaemia Research. Contact her on 01484 685249 or Valerie Ackroyd, secretary of Honley and Huddersfield Leukaemia Research, on 01484 662852.

You can find out more by visiting www.blood.co.uk OR www.anthonynolan.org.uk OR www.lrf.org.uk

To find out more about Adrian’s blog and campaign, visit http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk