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A DESPERATE plea to Hampshire's Asian communities was issued today in the hope they could save young Rianna Deol's life.

People from Asian backgrounds turned up today to a special bone marrow donor register recruitment session in Southampton.

The search is on for a suitable donor for six-year-old Rianna, who has leukaemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

The Anthony Nolan Trust, which organised the session, wanted scores of Asians to attend to boost not only Rianna's chances of survival, but also those of hundreds of other Asians across the country who urgently need donors.

Azra Iqbal, black and ethnic minority donor recruitment manager for the trust, said: "There are patients dying because of a shortage of Asian people on the bone marrow donor register.

"It's really important that people think about it and come forward and join the register.

"A bone marrow transplant is urgent for Rianna, but it's also urgent that other patients find a match.

"From the response we have been getting, we're hoping for a fantastic turnout this weekend."

There are currently 13,342 Asian people on the A n t h o n y N o l a n donor register."

Th e r e ' s no ideal n umb e r, "

said Azra.

"You could have all the Asians in the world on the register and still not find a match, but the more people join, the more likely it is patients will find a match."

Rianna's uncle Steve Basra, from Bassett, said: "If there's no match for R i a n n a then the outlook is bleak for her. But we'll keep trying until we do find a match.

"Also, if there is no match for Rianna there might be a match for another Asian child. It won't be a waste of anyone's time if no match for Rianna is found."

Rianna, who lives in Kent with her parents Tony and Rav and brother Josh, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in December 2005.

She went into remission after chemotherapy, but relapsed in February this year. Now her only hope of survival is a bone marrow transplant.

The bone marrow register recruitment session was held at the Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Cranbury Road, Southampton.

Potential donors must be aged 18 to 40 and in good health. Anyone attending tomorrow will be required to answer questions about their health and give a blood sample.

5:15pm Sunday 20th July 2008

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