A mixed race model suffering with leukaemia has been given the gift of life as a bone marrow donor is found (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

A mixed race model suffering with leukaemia has been given the gift of life as a bone marrow donor is found

1:40pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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A SERIOUSLY ill model has been thrown a life-line by a complete stranger after a bone marrow match was found for her in Germany.

Mum-of-two Karla Neckles from Hainault has been given the gift of life after being told she only had weeks to live.

Following an appeal in the Guardian for more donors to come forward, doctors revealed they have found a bone marrow match for the 21-year-old leukaemia sufferer.

The former gymnast, who has two sons Lenny, three, and six-month-old Joshua, is awaiting tests, but it is thought the operation could ahead within weeks.

Miss Neckles is being treated in Barts Hospital, London, after being told she had the disease in January.

It was decided she needed the life-saving transplant after the leukaemia returned despite chemotherapy.

There are currently 16,000 people worldwide in need of a bone marrow transplant and many searches are unsuccessful as people of mixed race ethnicity are seriously under-represented on the bone marrow register.

Miss Neckles' search was also hindered by this as her mother is Caucasian and her father is half Caucasian and half Grenadan.

The news comes after doctors scoured the register for a genetic match and more than 100 people attended a recruitment clinic by the Anthony Nolan Trust at Miss Neckles' old school in Newham.

There will be another donor drive at the East London Gymnastics Club - where Miss Kneckles used to work - in Frobisher Road, Beckton, on Thursday from 4pm until 8.30pm.

If you cannot attend a clinic but would like to donate, contact the Anthony Nolan Trust on: 7284 1234 or visit anthonynolan.org.uk for more information.