Mark appeals to help him find a bone marrow donor.

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Big-hearted people have rallied to help a leukaemia sufferer find a potentially life-saving bone marrow donor.Forty people responded to Mark Sutcliffe's desperate appeal and attended a special session to join the bone marrow register.

Doctors have told the 41-year-old Beeford Primary School headteacher he may not survive without the transplant.

Father-of-two Mr Sutcliffe, of Burton Fleming, near Driffield, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2009.

He is recovering from a third course of chemotherapy in Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, while his wife Justine stays at home with their young daughters.

Family friend Sue Kirven, of Burton Fleming, organised the session at Wold Newton Primary School in Wold Newton, near Driffield, on Wednesday.

She said: "My children and Mark and Justine's daughters go to the school and I just wanted to do something to help.

"I'm really pleased with the response to the appeal and there are now 40 new names on the donor register.

"Hopefully, a match will be found for Mark and other sufferers who need a life-saving transplant."

The session to collect saliva samples from potential donors was conducted by bone marrow charity The Anthony Nolan Trust, but more tests are needed before it is known if there was a successful match.

Charlotte Connolly, trust donor recruitment manager, said: "We are always short of donors and were delighted with the turnout."

Before the event, Mr Sutcliffe told the Mail: "It could make a real life-saving difference to me or someone else who is waiting.

"This is my only option to stay healthy. If I want to be able to walk my daughters down the aisle when they get married, I need to have a transplant."

Story sourced via the Hull and East Riding Mail. Click HERE to see their website.

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