Can you help Bethany?

[davieG]

Anyone get a leaflet from them yesterday?

Are you going to give it a go?

Merc

A teenager desperately needs a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with cancer for the third time.

A worldwide search for a matching donor is under way after Bethany Mickleburgh, 14, left, discovered that leukaemia, which she has twice fought off, had returned.

Her family have also launched a heartfelt campaign to enlist potential donors and give their daughter a chance of defeating the disease.

They have handed out flyers throughout the city promoting a one-off event, where people can put themselves forward as a potential donor.

Bethany, from Western Park, Leicester, said: "It was a massive shock when I found out the cancer had come back, but this event could help me get another chance and could give me, or other people like me, the opportunity of being cured. If I had a message for readers, it would be please sign up to the register. It could make all the difference."

Bethany, a pupil at St Paul's Catholic School, in Evington, is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

She was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when she was three, and underwent two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy, before she went into remission.

When she was eight, the disease returned and doctors said her best chance of beating it was with an accurate bone marrow transplant.

Despite finding a partial match in Canada, doctors felt a transplant would be too risky and she endured another two years of chemotherapy, and again went into remission.

After a check-up a few weeks ago, it was discovered the cancer had returned.

Dad Jon, 50, said: "I have been getting through it by concentrating on getting as many people to come to the recruitment event.

"Bethany's mum gets through it by living every treatment, every pain and every injection with Bethany, by being by her side.

"Jemma, her sister, helps us all get through it by being the most wonderful sister to Beth."

Doctors hope to give Bethany two more months of chemotherapy while they find a match.

Mum Veronica, 50, said: "We live each day as it comes. We could be angry because this is sad, and, of course, desperately unfair, but being angry would be such a waste of energy.

"I would plead with people to join the donor register. It is so easy – you just have to fill in a simple form and give a saliva sample – it will take all of five minutes."

Jemma, 17, is leading a 50-strong campaign team, handing out posters for the recruitment drive to be held next Saturday between noon and 4pm at the Tigers Stadium.

Jemma said: "I have to do this for my sister because she is a wonderful person, who has always been there for me."

[stix]

Im going down with the old woman on saturday.

I think that everbody else between 18-40 should do the same.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Didn't get a leaflet, where do you sign up?

[davieG]

Didn't get a leaflet, where do you sign up?

I haven't got one but I believe you just have to turn up next Saturday between noon and 4pm at the Tigers Stadium fill in a form and spit in a cup.

[FoxesAreBlue]

I haven't got one but I believe you just have to turn up next Saturday between noon and 4pm at the Tigers Stadium fill in a form and spit in a cup.

Ta

[stix]

Maybe a mod could sticky this thread at least until next saturday. It has been pushed down the list abit already today. Just to save people bumping it?

[Bert]

Sadly can't make it, but hoping someone out there will be a match.

[Webbo]

I joined the Anthony Nolan register 10/12 years ago. There were a couple of occasions when it looked like I might be required to donate, I had to do extra blood tests but in the end I wasn't chosen. A bit disappointing really, the thought of saving someone's life really appealed.

I'd urge anyone who can this to go, it's a really worthwhile thing to do.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I don't live in Leicester, and am too old to be of help, but I will pray for her. God bless her, and help her.

[Father Ted]

Im 17, does anybody know if I can still go down and take the test?

[stix]

Im 17, does anybody know if I can still go down and take the test?

Not sure. Maybe with parental consent?

It may have something to do with your(under 18s) body not being fully developed though?

[davieG]

Merc

Celebrities – including the entrepreneur Lord Sugar and spin doctor Alastair Campbell – are supporting a campaign to find a bone marrow donor for a Leicester teenager.

Bethany Mickleburgh, 14, discovered that leukaemia, which she has fought off twice, had returned a few weeks ago.

Nearly 1,000 people have signed up to attend an event to find potential donors at the Tiger's Stadium on Saturday.

And Bethany's family and friends have been bombarding celebrities via website Twitter, asking them to tell their online followers about Saturday's recruitment drive.

As well as Lord Sugar and Alistair Campbell, Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh, fitness guru Rosemary Conley and the cast of The Only Way is Essex have re-posted messages sent to them by Bethany's friends, to tens of thousands of online followers.

Bethany's mum Veronica, 50, from Western Park, said: "It is thanks to our amazing family and friends we have been able to spread the word about the event to so many people – and celebrities.

"People know she has battled with this disease most of her life and they empathise with that. They have seen her, despite the disease, become the beautiful young lady she is. The courage she shows inspires people to help."

Hundreds of volunteers, who have called themselves "Team Bethany" have handed out 40,000 flyers all over the city, promoting Saturday's event.

Bethany, a pupil at St Paul's Catholic School, in Evington, is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

She said: "It is amazing so many people want to help me, and to think there are 40,000 posters out there about me is amazing."

The Anthony Nolan Trust, which is helping to run the event, hopes a match can also be found for Inspector Rik Basra, of Leicestershire Police.

The married father-of-two, who has served with the force for 26 years, is also having treatment for leukaemia and desperately needs a transplant, too.

Colleague Chief Constable Simon Cole said: "We want to do everything possible to help Rik recover from this dreadful illness.

"The more people on the donor register, the more people who are suffering from blood cancers, including leukaemia, stand a chance of recovery."

To join the donor register, readers can attend the event at the Tiger's Stadium on Saturday between noon and 4pm, give a saliva sample and fill in a simple form.

A spokesman for the Anthony Nolan Trust, said: "We particularly need men aged 18 to 30 as they are more likely to be asked to donate."

How you can help

Go along to the Tigers Stadium on Saturday between noon and 4pm to sign up to the register.

Let Bethany and Rik know you are attending by visiting www.facebook.com and searching for Recruitment Drive For Beth, or Rik Basra.

Sign up to the Anthony Nolan register online at:

www.anthonynolan.org/you-can-do

Donate money to Anthony Nolan by visiting:

www.justgiving.com/-

[Ashley]

I'm going to this. I hope she find donor! My cousin died of leukaemia

[The Year Of The Fox]

Me and another lad are going today. Anyone know the likelyhood of finding a match? Not sure what different types of bone marrow you can get, but surely it must be quite a rare one that she needs? Not quite sure how anyone who is free today can excuse themselves from going.

Anyone know if you will have to pay and display at the ground still? Bit harsh if you do

[stix]

Just been down.

Great turn out. Hundreds of potential matches.

When i sat down to give my sample the lady/helper informed me that i was lucky as the guy before me had to give his sample infront of the central news cameras.

NOBODY wants to have to look at this mug whilst they are just settling down for their tea tonight!

NOBODY.

[AoWW]

BUMP - you've got until 4pm to get down there... still plenty of time.

[Tom17LCFC]

So many people down there!! Quality to see. Think they were running out of tubes when I went down just before 3. Hope they can find a match for Bethany or anyone else in a similar situation.

[stix]

Just under 2000 people attended yesterdays donor drive.

Well done to all those involved

[Bert]

Great to hear, was disappointed I couldn't get there. Hope there's a match in there for her.

[davieG]

Merc

A record number of people have responded to a teenage cancer sufferer's plea for help to save her life.

Nearly 2,000 people turned out to register to become a potential bone marrow donor for Bethany Mickleburgh, 14, who desperately needs a transplant after being diagnosed with leukaemia for the third time.

Hundreds of Leicestershire people have also inundated the Anthony Nolan charity with on-line requests to join the register to help the teenager.

A clinic run by her friends and family at the Tigers stadium on Saturday saw 1,997 sign up to be tested as a possible match in just five hours.

It set the world record for the most people to sign up at a single event in Anthony Nolan's 40-year history.

Bethany, a pupil at St Paul's Catholic School in Evington, is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary, but was able to attend the final hour of the event.

She said: "I was really overwhelmed by the amount of people who attended and even more at the world record. I am really pleased that so many more people have joined the register."

Her dad Jon, 50, from Western Park, Leicester, said: "We were absolutely astonished by the number of people who turned up.

"A nurse from Anthony Nolan said she had never seen such an army of people at one event – and that does not count those who have signed up online, or still plan to. It's astonishing really."

Organisers were forced to throw open the doors an hour earlier than planned in a bid to tackle the growing queue.

Some 110 volunteers were on hand to help people sign up to the register by filling in a form and providing a saliva sample, in a bid to find a match for the teenager.

"More people than we could have dreamed of turned up," said Bethany's mum Veronica, 50.

"It was lovely to see so many people of all ages.

"Bethany might only be 14, but she has the ability to look at the bigger picture and she knows that this day, for her, could help other young leukaemia sufferers, if not her."

Hundreds of volunteers who called themselves Team Bethany, led by her sister Jemma, aged 17, handed out 40,000 flyers promoting the event.

Teenager Charlotte Kennedy, from Narborough was handed one at Leicester's Clock Tower and, while she was too young to join the register, convinced mum Elaine to come along.

"I just thought if that was me, or if that was someone in my family, I would want all the help I could have," said Charlotte.

Mum Elaine, 49, added: "I just wanted to help, and thought why not join?"

Josie Deamer, 28, from Braunstone also went to the stadium to join the register run by charity Anthony Nolan.

"It takes just a few minutes to do, and that could be enough to save someone's life," said Josie.

"It is nothing really to the person donating, but it can mean everything to the person who needs the transplant, and their family."

Bethany has beaten leukaemia twice before with chemotherapy, but doctors said her best hope this time, will come from a successful donation of matching bone marrow, and an international search is currently under way.

It is hoped that a donor can be found for her before a meeting with doctors at the Birmingham Children's Hospital at the end of the month, when specialists will plan her ongoing treatment.

Mum Veronica added: "The support really does help us get through the down days – it reminds us how much help we have. I cannot thank our volunteers enough – they gave up their time to get people to the event and it was amazing.

"The event was our last push at campaigning, and now we will just hope for the future and focus on Bethany and her treatment, and being there for her sister Jemma. They are both wonderful."