BECOMING a teenager is a milestone birthday for any youngster to celebrate.

But for Aimee Read, reaching the age of 13 is far more poignant, because seven years ago, she was given just 12 months to live.

Aimee, of Moorcroft, Edenfield, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1994 at just two years old.

She had to undergo two years of treatment to fight the cancer but, just six months after finishing her medication, Aimee relapsed and specialists at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury told her family she only had 20 per cent chance of survival - even if they were able to find a bone marrow donor.

Several months of searching through 300,000 blood samples failed to find a match and, when Aimee was four, her family was told she had just 12 months to live unless a bone marrow donor could be found.

The news forced mum Wendy to make a desperate plea for a donor in the Bury Times in 1997.

The response was astonishing.

More than 500 readers came forward to offer bone marrow at two clinics in Bury set up by the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Wendy said: "We were overwhelmed by the response that we got to appeals for donors and help with fundraising, thanks to the Bury Times.

"This actually kept us strong knowing that so many people were trying to help us.

"Without the help and support of family, friends and the whole local community who got behind our cause 110 per cent, I don't think we would have got through that very difficult time."

Nine months later, Aimees family received the news they had been waiting for; a matching donor had been found. In January 1998, Aimee finally underwent the transplant.

The youngster, who is now a pupil at Haslingden High School, was given the all-clear two years ago. She is putting the final preparations to her 13th birthday party, with more than 30 friends due to attend from her high school and her old primary, Stubbins County Primary School in Ramsbottom.

Wendy said: "On Saturday Aimee will become a teenager, a birthday we never thought she would see, and I put this down to the love and support we got from everyone.

"We still do not know who Aimee's donor is, but I hope to one day to be able to thank them personally for saving Aimees life."