THE people of Abertillery are pulling together to remember a popular 21-year-old who died after collapsing in the street.

Rhys Sterry, 21, died on July 9 after collapsing in Somerset Street.

He was described as a "one in a million" by his family and hundreds of people paid tribute to him on social networking site Facebook.

Now family friend Martin Gough has organised a sponsored bike ride on August 12 in Rhys' memory.

This will start at 9.30am from the surgery car park at Foundry Bridge in Abertillery and will see cyclists riding up to Brecon via Pontypool.

It will cost £5 to take part and the money will be given to Rhys' father Jeff Sterry to donate to charity of his choice in Rhys' name.

Mr Gough said he is a keen cyclist and wanted to do something to raise money and celebrate Rhys' life.

A fun day will follow the bike ride at 3pm at the Railway Inn in Abertillery with live music, face painting, a disco and karaoke.

DJ Chris Cooper and local singers Sue Charles and Robbie John are donating their time for free.

Raffle prizes have been donated by local businesses including car valeting, beauty treatments and tickets to West End show Jersey Boys.

Collection boxes can also be found at businesses in Abertillery town centre to add towards the total amount.

The Railway Inn's landlady Alison Parker said: "Everyone in Abertillery and the surrounding villages is pulling together to mark Rhys death, not simply because he was so young and it was so sudden, but also because he was such an Abertillery character. He was so well known around the town, and always stopped to speak to people. He was a genuinely lovely person."

Sponsorship forms are available from the Railway Inn in Abertillery.

Rhys' funeral will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Abertillery on July 30 at 11am followed by Gwent Crematorium at 12.30pm.