MOTORBIKE enthusiasts from across the country have raised money in memory of a friend who lost his battle against cancer.

Derek Morley helped the East Lancashire branch of the Chopper Club raise money for Derian House children's hospice, Chorley.

But he lost his battle for life 12 months ago. Instead of flowers mourners donated to the hospice and raised around £400.

Tomorrow the Staffordshire branch of the Chopper Club will donate an additional £900 of its funds to the same cause, in memory of Derek, who many members knew through biking events and meetings across the country.

The father-of-three was fascinated by choppers, the low seated motorcycles made famous in the film Easy Rider, since being a teenager.

And even in the weekend prior to his death he enjoyed a family weekend away at a bike meeting in York where he rode a trike version of the chopper.

His wife Katherine, 38, said: "We were away for that weekend as a family and we had a really great weekend.

But he was riding around one minute then the next he had passed away."

Derek, known as Kiwi because of his mother's birthplace in New Zealand, had been in remission for 13 months but became ill again last April.

After the July weekend away he felt a poorly because of his exertions and went to see a consultant on the Tuesday.

Two days later he died from pneumonia.

Rick Spedding, for the East Lancashire branch of the Chopper Club, said: "Kiwi was a really good friend and a good member. It was a real shock when we heard of his death after the show in Yorkshire.

"When he was first ill he said he didn't want to sit at home dwindling and he made the most of his time."

Derek, of Hodder Street, Accrington, had worked as a gardener at Whitbread Brewery in Salmesbury for more than 10 years.

He had three children Lottie, 27, Elliot, seven, and Sam, six.

MOTORBIKE enthusiasts from across the country have raised money in memory of a friend who lost his battle against cancer.

Derek Morley helped the East Lancashire branch of the Chopper Club raise money for Derian House children's hospice, Chorley.

But he lost his battle for life 12 months ago. Instead of flowers mourners donated to the hospice and raised around £400.

Tomorrow the Staffordshire branch of the Chopper Club will donate an additional £900 of its funds to the same cause, in memory of Derek, who many members knew through biking events and meetings across the country.

The father-of-three was fascinated by choppers, the low seated motorcycles made famous in the film Easy Rider, since being a teenager.

And even in the weekend prior to his death he enjoyed a family weekend away at a bike meeting in York where he rode a trike version of the chopper.

His wife Katherine, 38, said: "We were away for that weekend as a family and we had a really great weekend.

"But he was riding around one minute then the next he had passed away."

Derek, known as Kiwi because of his mother's birthplace in New Zealand, had been in remission for 13 months but became ill again last April.

After the July weekend away he felt a poorly because of his exertions and went to see a consultant on the Tuesday.

Two days later he died from pneumonia.

Rick Spedding, for the East Lancashire branch of the Chopper Club, said: "Kiwi was a really good friend and a good member. It was a real shock when we heard of his death after the show in Yorkshire.

"When he was first ill he said he didn't want to sit at home dwindling and he made the most of his time."

Derek, of Hodder Street, Accrington, had worked as a gardener at Whitbread Brewery in Samlesbury for more than 10 years.

He had three children Lottie, 27, Elliot, seven, and Sam, six.