AFTER Adam Rowbottom’s sudden death, his family and friends are determined to live life to the full in his memory.

The 23-year-old died of heart failure in his sleep at home in Mattock Road, Abingdon, last July.

Now six of his close friends and brother Anthony are to cycle more than 600 miles to Berlin to try to raise £25,000 for charity Cry (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

The group decided on the challenge after meeting for drinks on what would have been Adam’s 24th birthday on March 27.

James Field Pricey went to Larkmead School, Abingdon, with Adam.

The 24-year-old, of Francis Little Drive, Abingdon, said: “We just felt we had to do something a bit out of the ordinary, something decent in his memory.”

Mr Field Pricey quit the construction work job he hated after Adam’s death.

He now works in sales, and volunteers as a special police constable.

He said: “Adam lived for the day and for the hour.

“His attitude was ‘who knows what is round the corner?’ It just highlighted how important your friends are.”

Adam was a Tottenham fan and half German so the cyclists will leave from Spurs’ White Hart Lane stadium in north London and aim to arrive in the German capital for a party on his birthday next year.

Brother Anthony Rowbottom, 26, also quit a job he did not like, to start his own business, after Adam’s death.

He said: “We wanted to do something special for his birthday and we wanted to do something for Cry.”

Also taking part in the ride are former Larkmead pupils Luke Allen, Jonathan Rusk, Jamie Burns, Victoria Mitchell, and Fiona Hannington.

Mum Ulrike Rowbottom, 51, said: “It is a very steep target but we have to aim high. If they raised £10,000 I would be more than happy. We are trying to turn his death into a positive legacy.”

Adam’s family only found out in February that he died from an undetected genetic heart condition, LVNC.

His mother urged people to sign a petition backing a campaign to test youngsters’ hearts at school.

  • Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions.

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest.

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction (LVNC) is a genetic condition where the heart does not develop properly in the womb and can cause heart failure later in life.

  • To donate or find out more and to sign the petition, click on the links below.