A YOUNG woman who was given a new lease of life after a bone marrow transplant a year ago is urging people to become donors.

Rebecca Earley, 23, of The Hermitage, Uxbridge, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2011 after being taken to A&E with what she had thought were the symptoms of a cold or flu.

A course of chemotherapy was not successful and she was told a bone marrow transplant was her only hope for a cure. When Miss Earley’s brother, Tom, proved not to be a match, the family turned to blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, which eventually found a suitable donor.

Miss Earley had the transplant in May 2012, since when she has made a steady recovery.

She now hopes to resume her final year of studying primary education at Roehampton University in September.

Miss Earley, said: “I know I still have a long way to go but if what I have been through so far didn’t knock me down, then getting back to my old self and building myself back up won’t knock me down either.

“I cannot put into words how thankful I am for my donor and will be forever grateful to him.

“If it wasn’t for donors like him and Anthony Nolan, who recruit people to the bone marrow register, I wouldn’t be here today.

“I want to encourage as many people as possible to join the bone marrow register as you could be a match for someone. You could help someone who is in the same position as I was a year ago.”

? Anthony Nolan has donors for half the people who need one, and young men aged 18-30 in particular are being urged to sign up to the register.

Visit www.anthonynolan.org to find out more.