Campaigners seeking a bone marrow donor to save the life of leukaemia victim Nicola Coates today issued an urgent appeal for help.

The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust needs "phlebotomists" - people such as doctors or nurses who are trained in how to take blood - to volunteer for a donor testing clinic to be held in York later this month.

It is also seeking more people who are willing to be tested and go on the trust's donor register to come forward and book appointments for the clinic, to be held between 5pm and 9pm on Wednesday, October 27, at 14, Priory Street, off Micklegate.

The clinic is the second to be held since Nicola Coates, 25, of Wheldrake, fell ill earlier this year with her third bout of leukaemia. She needs a bone marrow transplant to combat the illness and none of her relatives are suitable.

Following an Evening Press story about Nicola's 25th birthday, 50 volunteers came forward to get their blood tested at a clinic held last Friday at Wheldrake surgery.

More contacted the surgery after the session became fully booked and were unable to get an appointment, and the trust is now asking them to get in touch to make an appointment instead for the second clinic later this month.

Trust spokeswoman Vanessa Hemingway said the clinic's evening timing would also make it more suitable for people who could not make it to the Wheldrake session because of work commitments.

To join the register, people must be aged between 18 and 40, physically fit and weigh at least eight stone.

Vanessa needs several trained people for the duration of the clinic - it could either be individuals who can work the entire four hours or others who can work for part of the session.

Anyone able to help take blood, or who would like to get their blood tested and join the register, should contact Vanessa on 01226 219385.

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