AN appeal to find a bone marrow donor for a young Somerset woman highlighted in the Okehampton Times last month has now caught the eye of top figures in the medical world.

Leukaemia sufferer Kimberley Allistone of Taunton needs to have a bone marrow transplant by March to improve her chances of recovering from the disease.

She appealed to relatives living in the Chagford area and Times readers to take a blood test to reveal suitable donors after finding a tissue match was impossible through close relatives.

Now the appeal seems to be snowballing.

Dr Cristina Navarretti, scientific director of the British Bone Marrow Registry, told the Times this week she was 'delighted' the profile of the cause was raised by publicity.

The Registry is part of the National Blood Service — one of three registers of bone marrow donors in the country.

Dr Navarretti is very keen to be kept informed about the progress of the appeal.

She said: 'We obviously welcome Mr Allistone's efforts to try to recruit more blood and bone marrow donors.

'I contacted Mr Allistone because we have to manage this appeal very carefully as we don't want to suddenly be inundated with people.'

Dr Navarretti said there was 'nothing more frustrating' than willing members of the public being told they could not become donors at a specific time because communication and administration had broken down.

Patrick Allistone, Kimberley's husband, said: 'We were contacted at about 7pm at night so we knew it was important.

'They said it's a great opportunity for them to get lots of blood and bone marrow donations throughout the whole of the country.'

Mr Allistone came to Okehampton last week to give out information sheets publicising blood donor sessions taking place in the town today (Thursday).

From blood given at a session, tissue-typing tests can be carried out to identify suitable bone marrow donors for sufferers of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia.

Mr Allistone said: 'I gave out 800 leaflets — they went like hot-cakes and I did a more brisk trade than the chap selling the Big Issue that day!

'What really warmed my heart was when four ladies told me their sons had already gone for the blood test.'

Mr Allistone has canvassed leaders of councils all over the country, asking that an Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust information leaflet be distributed with wage-slips.

Kim's father, Edwin Prouse, has received more calls locally and the appeal has also received support from explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and boxer Barry McGuigan.

'It's like chucking a pebble in a pond — it's rippling outwards,' said Mr Allistone, who will be in Okehampton this afternoon to encourage people to attend the blood donor sessions.

These will be held in the Charter Hall between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and 5pm and 7.15pm today and tomorrow. When giving blood, please ask for a tissue typing for bone marrow donors.

Carlene Dias, spokesman for the National Blood Service, said today's blood donor session in Okehampton was a departure from usual procedure.

She said normally people give a blood donation first and a bone marrow blood sample on a subsequent visit.

'Because this appeal has been raised to national proportions, we will be taking a blood donation and a bone marrow blood sample at the same time,' she said.