Leukaemia sufferer's sister denied entry into UK for stem cell donation

A leukaemia sufferer's sister, who is a perfect match for a life-saving stem cell donation, has been denied entry to the UK by the Home Office.

May Brown, who suffers from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, has launched an appeal via the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT), to allow her sister Martha into the country.

Doctors have said Ms Brown, who lives in Dorset, needs a stem cell transplant and her sister Martha, who lives in Nigeria with her two children, has been identified as a 10 out of 10 match.

However, Martha has been denied entry because her monthly salary as a school teacher in Nigeria is only £222 per month and falls short of visa requirements.

Ms Brown has now launched a petition to get the Home Office to review the decision - she had already agreed to sponsor her sister's trip to the UK, covering all expenses.

Ms Brown, 23, who is married to a former British soldier and has a two-year-old daughter, was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and had four cycles of chemotherapy before going into remission.

But nine months later, the cancer returned and consultants have said her only chance of survival is a stem cell transplant.

A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC immigration rules were applied to all visa application and added: "We are sensitive to cases with compassionate circumstances but all visa applications must be assessed against the immigration rules.

"The onus is on the individual to provide the necessary supporting evidence to prove they meet the requirements."