Stephen Sutton Ride Out: Bikers to join charity trip in honour of inspirational teenager

The annual Stephen Sutton Ride Out forms part of efforts to keep the teenager's memory alive after he raised more than £1 million for Teenage Cancer Trust before he died. His mother, Jane, is also climbing Mount Kilimanjaro later this year.

Two years to the day after his death, Stephen's brave fight against cancer is still inspiring people to push themselves for good causes – none more so than his own mother, Jane.

The Burntwood teenager's positivity in the face of adversity took the world by storm in 2014.

Originally, Stephen wanted to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust but today his total stands at more than £5 million.

While individual donations have continued to flood in since his death, annual events in his honour have also continued to add to his legacy – with the fourth Stephen Sutton Ride Out for anything on wheels being held tomorrow.

In Stephen's absence, his mother Jane has taken on the role of fundraiser extraordinaire.

She is currently planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for the Teenage Cancer Trust later this year and has taken part in sky dives, as well as the ride out.

If all goes to plan she will reach the summit of Kilimanjaro on October 9.

• Stephen's original fundraising page

• Jane Sutton's Kilimanjaro climb page

Jane also ran the London marathon in 2015, racking up donations of £7,000 in just 24 hours and keeping a promise she said she made to her son before he died.

Prior to the race, she called Stephen her 'driving force'.

She has continued to use social media as a means of letting the world know about Stephen's story.

Speaking back when she announced her ambition to climb Kilimanjaro, she posted on the Stephen's Story Facebook page: "I thought about it for all of five minutes.

"I followed Stephen's advice to seize every opportunity and take on the challenge.

"I find it amazing the knock-on effect of taking part in one activity and how that opens the door to another opportunity."

Stephen's battle against cancer captured the hearts of the nation, thanks in part to his iconic 'thumbs-up' pose and his honesty through social media.

When diagnosed with cancer, he didn't ask how long he could expect to survive, because he wanted to count his remaining time in terms of the difference he could make, rather than days, weeks and months.

He made a 'bucket list' of things to do in his final months, successfully achieving many of them, including becoming a Guinness World Record holder.

He also visited the Download Festival, which has since changed the name of its main stage to pay tribute to him. His charity campaign grew in popularity daily and was endorsed by celebrities such as Jason Manford, Jimmy Carr and Jonathan Ross.

Manford donated £10,000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust and gave all the turnover from his own comedy clubs for the entire month of May to the charity.

As the campaign hit the £1m mark, Prime Minister David Cameron also pledged his support.

After his death, Stephen was recognised for the inspiration he provided to people and for his fundraising activities, with awards including an MBE and an honorary doctorate from Coventry University.

Tomorrow will see the fourth Stephen Sutton Ride Out take place, where 250 motorbikes and classic cars will take to the streets of his home town, with the procession around several towns in the county led by his mother.

Organiser Colin Jacques made a 'personal promise' to the inspirational 19 year old to continue the event each year after the inaugural ride-out in 2013.

He said: "Stephen lost his valiant fight, so the ride-out also sets out to remember him and give local bikers and around 20 vintage and classic car owners the opportunity to play their part in strengthening his legacy.

"Having originally set out in 2013 to help Stephen with his drive to raise £10,000 for the charity, the number one item on his 'bucket list', the Ride-Out alone has now raised £24,500 in three years.

"As with previous years, we are appealing for local bikers and vintage car owners to get themselves sponsored and to join us on the 25-mile trip around Tamworth, Alrewas, Kings Bromley and into Burntwood to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust in Stephen's memory.

"We want to see as many people as possible to come out to cheer Jane and her band of merry men and women as they wind their way through the Staffordshire countryside."

The fourth Stephen Sutton Ride Out starts at 11.15am at Lichfield Rugby Club.