FAMILY and friends of Wayne Pope, who died unexpectedly, took to the saddle for a fifth annual bike ride today to mark his 35th birthday and raise money for life saving equipment in schools.

Wearing green t-shirts, about 40 cyclists took to the streets of Watford to complete a 22-mile route to raise money for Wayne's Fund, which was set up in 2005 following the young man's sudden death.

Wayne, who would have celebrated his 35th birthday today, died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and his family are certain that a heart defibrillator could have saved his life.

His dad, John, and younger brother, Glynn, today took part in their fifth annual bike ride with family and friends, and newcomers keen to support the campaign, to raise money to buy the vital machines for local schools and raise the profile of cardiac risk in people of all ages.

Glynn, 30, from Creasy Close, Abbots Langley, said: "It's a special bike ride today because we are celebrating Wayne's birthday.

"Wayne would either think we are doing a great job or mad for carrying this on for so long. I think he would be proud that people turn up every year to remember him, toast him, and celebrate his life while raising awareness of his death."

John added: "We have always tried to make it a positive event rather than a negative thing - that's really important.

"It will go on for as long as we can manage it. We will keep campaigning for defibrillators in schools. While we have got people supporting it, we will carry on. We're really pleased that people still want to come and support it."

Each defibrillator costs about £1,200 and seven schools have so far benefited from the work of Wayne's Fund. They are Mount Pleasant Lane School, Bricket Wood; St Catherine of Siena School, Garston, Abbots Langley and Divine Saviour, Francis Combe, St Michael's Catholic school, and Cavendish School, Hemel Hempstead where John is a teacher. Kings Langley and Sandringham in St Albans will be the next schools to benefit from new automatic powered G3 heart defibrillators. Money raised from the bike ride today will help to buy the life-saving piece of equipment for Ruislip school. This year the Pope family teamed up with the East of England Ambulance service to raise the campaign's profile. Each machine donated carries a plaque which reads: 'Donated by friends and family in memory of Wayne Pope'. For each machine donated, paramedics have promised to hold a workshop to demonstrate to school staff and pupils the safest way to use it.

Today's round-trip, starting and finishing at the Pope's home in The Gossamers, Garston, took cyclists through Harefield, and Watford Town Centre.

Mum Jeanette will be preparing a BBQ and party for the cyclists for their return.

To donate money to Wayne's Fund, email glynn.pope@hotmail.com.