A HAMPSTEAD charity has made an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward in a bid to save the life of a 21-year-old mother of two. The Anthony Nolan Trust is holding a clinic at King Alfred School in Golders Green on Tuesday (June 30) to try and find

A HAMPSTEAD charity has made an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward in a bid to save the life of a 21-year-old mother of two.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is holding a clinic at King Alfred School in Golders Green on Tuesday (June 30) to try and find a bone-marrow donor for Karla Neckles, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in January.

Ms Neckles, from Essex, said: "Shortly after the birth of my second child last November I found bruises all over my body, and felt depressed and tired.

"Being told I had leukaemia was a pretty massive shock. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out - one of my previous partners' brothers had died of leukaemia, so I really thought I was going to die. I was devastated and very scared."

Ms Neckle's only hope of survival now is to have a bone-marrow transplant. As well as searching for a suitable donor for her, the clinic will also aim to strengthen the Anthony Nolan Trust's donor register - which now includes Ham&High reporter Robyn Rosen - and to give hope to the people who are diagnosed with cancer every year.

A spokesman for the trust said: "All that is involved at the clinic is reading through some information, filling in a brief form and then having a simple blood test. If you are a match for a patient the donation procedure itself is incredibly simple and is not the painful process many believe it to be."

The clinic will be open from 5pm to 8.30pm at the King Alfred School in North End Road, close to Golders Green Tube station, to anyone aged between 18 and 40 and in good health.