Hundreds at bone marrow appeal

Anna Culshaw, who has a rare cancer, with her father Eddie

The family of a seven-year-old girl with a rare form of cancer say they are overwhelmed by the response to an appeal to find a bone marrow donor.

A total of 301 were tested to see if they could be donors for Anna Culshaw from Carrog in Denbighshire.

Anna Culshaw has regular blood transfusions but needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.

A clinic to test if people were suitable donors was held at Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen on Monday.

Her family is now hoping a match can be found from among the people who gave blood samples to be tested.

Anna's father Eddie Culshaw, from Carrog, said he had been told there was a good chance of finding a donor in the local area, and had urged people to join the bone marrow register.

We have gone round a lot of businesses, the schools have been fantastic, and we have had a good response to our hotline Karen Archer, Anthony Nolan Trust

Mr Culshaw said he hoped the clinics would help raise awareness of the need for bone marrow donors, and help other patients like Anna.

"It is not just for Anna - there are other children and adults out there looking for bone marrow," he said. "The only thing they can do is search the register."

Speaking at the event, he added: "Ther turnout has been fantastic. There are so many people here, and people we don't know - we will never be able to thank them all.

"They are coming from as far afield as mid Wales."

Anna's condition - myelodisplasia - stops her bone marrow making sufficient numbers of red blood cells.

Eddie Culshaw at the bone marrow clinic held in school

A donor's bone marrow, which is "harvested" during an hour-long procedure carried out under general anaesthetic, would replace Anna's.

The marrow is extracted from a donor's pelvic bone using a needle and syringe.

The person normally stays in hospital for a night or two and may feel tiredness or discomfort in the lower back afterwards.

Karen Archer, donor recruitment manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust, said: "It's so fantastic to be able to come to a community like this who have responded to a little girl in the area, but knowing they could help anyone in the world."

A second session is being held on Tuesday at the bakery where Anna's mother works.

'Lovely girl'

Jayne Davies, the acting head at Ysgol Caer Drewyn, said the school had been more than willing to set up the clinic.

"The staff and parents are keen to do anything they can to help Anna," she said. "She is a lovely girl, with lots of friends in the school

"Lots of the children send her cards and gifts. She is always in their thoughts." Anna's father said she was looking forward to being back at her school to see the clinic taking place.

"In a funny sort of way, she's really excited, because she'll be back in school, as she hasn't been there for a few weeks, " he said.

Last month, three players from Anna's favourite football team Everton - Kevin Kilbane, David Weir and Leon Osman - visited her home to wish her well.