It is great news to see that people turned out in force to register themselves on the bone marrow donor list on Saturday.

With the chances of finding a match so slim the phrase 'every little helps' could never be more appropriate.

But this should not be cause for people to sit back and assume that the job is being done for them.

For the sake of a small procedure anyone could help save the life of a child like seven-year-old Dean.

And even if you are not a match for him, you could be saving someone else's life.

All you have to do is take a simple blood test to put yourself on the register.

It may well turn out that you are not a match for anyone - but there are more than 6,000 people in the UK diagnosed with leukaemia each year who would like you to find out.

Tributes to tragic Suraj

OUR thoughts this week are with the family and friends of young Suraj Bhayani killed in a car crash last Monday.

The South Harrow teenager was a popular student at Stanmore College and dreamed of having a family of his own one day.

It is clear from the touching tributes made by his family and friends he will be missed by many.

Only those who have lost someone in similar tragic circumstances can have an understanding of what Suraj's family are going through.

It never seems right when someone so young has their life cut short.

It is particularly poignant to see many of his friends coping with his death by leaving messages on a social network website. One reads: "RIP. They say the good die young."

What is needed now is sympathy and comfort for those left behind.