Search to find donor for 12-year-old girl with leukaemia

A search is underway to try to find a bone marrow donor for a 12-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire who has an aggressive form of leukaemia.

Lilya Coleman-Jones has been in Nottingham Children's Hospital for the past four months since her diagnosis.

Her family has been ruled out as a match and there are no matches on the international register.

Lilya was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia in November Credit: Family photo

With the help of charities, Nottingham Marrow and Anthony Nolan, Lilya has started a campaign to try and find a donor.

This evening volunteers are at Nottingham Council House signing people up.

For Lilya it's not just about finding herself a donor - it's getting more people to register to potentially helping others in a similar situation.

Anyone who is already registered as a blood donor can become part of the marrow register, and a small sample of blood is taken at a donation session.

People in Nottingham have been signing up Credit: ITV Central News

The bone marrow can be used to treat a wide-range of cancers, as well as help rebuild damaged immune systems.

Anthony Nolan encourages donors from ages 16-30, and donors will be kept on their register until they are 60. People joining the register must:

  • be between 16 and 30 years old

  • be in good health

  • weigh over 7st 12lb (50kg)

  • have a body mass index (BMI) lower than 40

Donors who fulfil all of the eligibility criteria can fill out an application form. A cheek swab will then be taken and tested, before the donor is added to the register.

Events taking place

  • Wednesday 3rd April - Nottingham City Council House 12-7pm

  • Thursday 4th April - University of Nottingham (QMC, Medical School Foyer) 10.30am – 4.30pm

  • Thursday 4th April - University of Nottingham (Student’s Union) 10.30am – 4.30pm

  • Thursday 4th April - Nottingham Trent University (Boots Library) 10.30am – 4.30 pm

  • Sunday 6 April - 74 Middle Street, Beeston, 9.00am – 1pm