THE mother of brave leukaemia victim Aimee Read is leading a high-profile campaign to give people like her daughter a life-saving chance.

Mrs Wendy Read's appeal for a donor for Aimee touched the hearts of Bury Times readers last year, and more than 500 local people came forward to be tested as a possible match.

In January five-year-old Aimee from Moorcroft, Edenfield underwent a life-saving bone-marrow transplant after an agonizing wait for a suitable donor.

Although the family have a twelve month wait before Aimee is given the all clear, doctors are pleased with the youngster's progress. Aimee's search for a match was done through the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Now her mum is appealing for people to get behind the charity and give the 4,000 other leukaemia victims in the country a chance of life. And fund-raising events are being organised by the friends groups, committed to helping the trust. Aimee's mum is a keen member of two committees.

She said: "Aimee was one of the lucky ones, but the need for new volunteers to join the register is just as important as ever.

"There are still more than 4,000 patients needing a bone-marrow transplant - patients who will die without one." The trust receives no money from the government and relies entirely on donations to carry on their work. It costs £50 to test a volunteer and put him or her on the register.

In the coming months the Bury Friends and the Ramsbottom Friends of the trust have organised a whole host of activities to raise much needed money.

Wendy, who is a committee member of the both organisations, said: "Every penny raised on each of the events will go to the trust's work, helping leukaemia sufferers like Aimee. Bury Times readers have showed just how generous they are by offering to donate some of their bone-marrow.

"Now we are asking readers to support the trust by taking part in one of the events or by making a donation. This is also a great way for anyway who was not eligible to join the register to help the Aimee Read Appeal."

The events are:

Sunday, May 24: "It's a Nolan Knockout," The event will be held at Goshen Fields in Bury. Teams of four are invited to tackle an inflatable obstacle course made up of bouncy castles and then teams try milking plastic cows.

Sunday, June 21: "The Ramsbottom Ramble" - a six mile sponsored walk.

Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and June 28: The Krypton Factor Assault Course. The teams of four are asked to take part.

For further information contact Mr Steve Joyce, area manager for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust on 0161 795 9152.

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