FOR some people, a five-year battle against cancer would result in them wanting to forget all about the disease. For Brad Gudger, however, surviving chronic myeloid leukaemia proved an inspiration to help other young cancer sufferers going through the same experiences he encountered and survived.

Brad’s charitable and campaigning work, including setting up his own youth cancer charity, Alike, led to him receiving the Diana Award, the highest accolade a young person in this country can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.

Brad, 25, received the Diana Award, named in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, from the charity of the same name, which is supported by the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex.

“It was an extremely proud moment,” said Brad, who is from the North Yorkshire village of Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton. “I work with fantastic people and I’m part of an amazing team, but I’m very proud to have been recognised in this way.”

Brad was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2013 and received chemotherapy treatment at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. He was transferred to Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital for more specialised treatment, and after some initial success, his care was switched to Hammersmith Hospital so he could study at university in London.

However, his body stopped responding to the medication in 2017, and he was forced to have a life-saving bone marrow transplant at Hammersmith in January 2018, with his brother acting as his donor.

Thankfully, he has been declared cancer-free, but his experiences inspired him to do something to help other youngsters going through similar issues.

He has volunteered for a number of cancer charities and organisations, and became a member of the NHS Youth Forum. That led to him joining Youth Cancer Europe’s General Assembly, and he has been responsible for helping change medical legislation at a national and European level.

He also founded his own youth-led charity, Alike, which tackles isolation among young people with cancer by providing them with a national peer support app and UK-wide peer support groups.

His work impressed the judges on the 13 Diana Award panels, and he was presented with his Diana Award at a prestigious ceremony in London.

“We congratulate all our new Diana Award holders, who are changemakers for their generation,” said Tessy Ojo, CEO of the Diana Award. “We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens.”