TIME is running out for leukaemia victim Aimee Read. The five-year-old urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

Aimee (pictured with Mum Wendy) has a rare bone marrow type and a check of 300,000 donor samples has so far failed to produce a match.

The chances of success are thousands to one but, as mother Wendy said yesterday: "This is our last hope."

Huge efforts are being made in Bury to find a matching donor for Aimee, from Moorcroft in Edenfield.

The world-famous Anthony Nolan Trust is organising a donor session to take blood samples from local people and fitness boss Louise Brooks has offered the use of her health studio in the town centre. Trained volunteer nurses will also be needed.

Little Aimee has already endured chemotherapy and strong drugs.

Said Mrs Read: "We are absolutely devastated. The only thing that can help my daughter is a bone marrow transplant. We are waiting for a match and time is running out.

"Any one person out there could just be the one to save Aimee. It's a long shot but if they won't come forward there is no hope at all."

Aimee was diagnosed with leukaemia in September 1994. After treatment she had 18 months of remission before the cancer came back. "I would appeal to people to think how they would feel if their child was in this position. It's the last resort for Aimee, but if it can't help her it may well help others," said Mrs Read.

Both of Aimee's parents, as well as 18-month-old brother Jack, have been tested, but none was compatible with her rare bone marrow type.

Anyone between 18-40 can be a donor and a simple blood test will show if there is a match.

For a successful transplant the tissue type of the patient and donor must be compatible. But the process has been described as "like trying to match fingerprints" and hundreds of thousands of samples worldwide are continually being tested for suitability.

Donor Mrs Helen Tobias, of Tuscany View in Prestwich, was matched to a young patient recently and last week had bone marrow removed.

"I was surprised how well I felt afterwards," she said. "It was quite simple and I would encourage anyone to support the trust's appeal for more donors."

The Anthony Nolan Trust also wants to set up a "Friends" branch in Bury to organise donor sessions, raise money and create awareness.

Tina Emmott, regional co-ordinator of the Anthony Nolan Trust said: "We need volunteers to start a group in Bury and to generate local support for what is an extremely vital service.

"The more people who respond the more hope there is for people like Aimee."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.