A DESPERATE mother has made a passionate plea for the public to come forward today to become potential bone marrow donors.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is hosting a special recruitment clinic in Middlesbrough tomorrow to find volunteers with tissue types that could match sick leukaemia sufferers.

Christine Stevens is urging people to head to Newlands School in Saltersgill from 4pm until 7pm so they do not have to experience her agony.

Her daughter, Adele Wardingham, was seven months pregnant when she was diagnosed with nonHodgkin lymphoma, which has spread to her breasts, stomach and bones.

The cancer was so advanced that the decision was taken in March to deliver Theo ten weeks early, to give the 22-year-old the best chance of fighting the disease.

Her healthy baby, who was born weighing 4lb, is now eight months old, but Miss Wardingham is still very ill.

She has been admitted to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for a course of chemotherapy and to receive new bone marrow.

“It is a match but not a perfect one. It is the best they could do. If it does not work she can have another go,” said Mrs Stevens.

“We desperately need about 200 people to come to tonight’s event to make it a good night.

“ I would urge people to come because eight months ago I did not think I would be in this situation and I don’t want anyone else to go though this.”

For more information about donating bone marrow visit blood. co. uk or call 0300123-2323.