A SCHOOL is lending a helping hand to a seriously ill little boy who has been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition.

The primary school which four-year-old Riley Mulvany is due to attend in September is holding a bone marrow donor clinic next month in the hope of finding a match to cure the youngster.

Riley suffers from chronic granlomatus disorder (CGD), a condition which affects his body's ability to fight infection and which will force him to spend a life in and out of hospital if a match cannot be found.

Riley's parents Aimee Watson and Paul Mulvany launched an appeal to get people to register as donors after a match could not be found within the family.

Now Whinfield Primary School, in Darlington, has offered to host a bone marrow donor clinic so that people in Riley's home town can join the register more easily.

The school, which Riley's sister, Leona, seven, already attends, has offered the Anthony Nolan Trust use of their facilities for the event on Wednesday, June 6.

Headteacher Sheila Williams said the school had been more than happy to help when the trust had got in touch.

She said: "When we realised we had one of our own children in need of a bone marrow transplant, we decided to do something.

"We have got Leona in the school and Riley's due to start in September, so it's the least we could do.

"I hope we get a really good turnout."

Riley was diagnosed with the genetic condition - which affects just one in 250,000 people - in February and has already had to endure three operations.

He is still so poorly that he has been hospital bound at Newcastle General since his diagnosis due to numerous infections and his weight plummeted to two stone.

Rileys grandfather Paul said they were publicising the event as much as possible and hoped there would be a good turnout.

He added: "It is not just for Riley, it is for anyone who needs a donor," he said.

About 7,000 people in the UK are relying on the Anthony Nolan Trust to find bone marrow donors.

To join the bone marrow register, people must be between 18 and 40, fit and in good health and weigh more than 8st.

The donor clinic takes place at Whinfield Primary School, in Augusta Close, Darlington, on Wednesday, June 6, from 4pm to 7pm.

For more information on how to register as a donor, log on to www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 020-7284-1234.