THE family of Adam Riaz yesterday handed over £6,000 to Christie's Hospital on what would have been his 18th birthday.
Adam died in December last year after suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. He lost his brave battle just weeks after his family were wiped out in a house fire started by his dad Mohammed Riaz, 49.
After the tragic blaze, Adam told his uncle Barry Khanan and grandmother June that he wanted to donate £5,000 to Christie's as a thank-you for all the help and support the staff had given him during his illness.
The teenager had planned to give £1,000 for each member of his family who died in the fire - mum Caneze, 39, and sisters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 13, Alicia, 10, and Hannah, three.
An extra £1,000 has been added to the total in memory of Adam.
Barry told the Observer that the family wanted to mark what would have been Adam's special day by carrying out his nephew's wishes.
The donation is money owed to Adam from his mum's estate.
Barry, who is set to leave his home on Countess Street, Accrington, for a new life in Bolton with his mum June, said: "Adam said that this is what he wanted to do and we wanted to fulfil his wishes.
"Adam's close family and friends wanted to get together to say happy birthday and this was the best way we could do that.
"My mum, cousin Vicky and myself handed over the cheque on his 18th birthday. It's something he would have wanted us to do.
"We feel that this is the most fitting tribute for all the wonderful years we shared with our family.
"This is the last wish to be carried out for Adam. This is money out of his own pocket as a thank-you to the people who helped him through the crisis."
Barry said that if Adam had survived, he would have celebrated his big day surrounded by his closest friends.
Last year, about 200 family and friends held a fake 18th birthday party for Adam at the Stanley pub because Barry said they knew his nephew wouldn't survive.
Adam's best friend Jamie George, 18, said: "If Adam was still alive he would have celebrated his birthday with Jack Daniels and lots of it.
"He was very friendly and a really happy person. His friends wanted to get together to mark his birthday but Adam had so many friends I couldn't get in touch with all of them.
"There are always things popping up that remind us about Adam. It has been difficult to come to terms with but we have lots of happy memories of him.
"Happy birthday Adam."
