ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Gareth Alexander can finally play football with his mates after a bone marrow transplant from his sister cured an ultra-rare condition.

And a fund-raising drive in pubs and clubs across York has bought him a computer to play on as well.

Gareth always bruised exceptionally easily because of Wiscott Aldridge Syndrome and had to avoid contact sports.

The syndrome, believed to be suffered by only a score or so of people in Britain, also meant repeated infections, severe headaches, cramps in cold weather and a risk of developing cancer in later life.

But doctors agreed to conduct a transplant from his big sister Ann-Marie earlier this year at hospital in Newcastle. He spent a long and boring period in isolation but he has now returned home after doctors declared that the operation had successfully shed him of the syndrome. And he is enjoying a normal life for the first time. "I'm already playing rugby," said Gareth, of Woodlea Avenue, off Boroughbridge Road.

"It's a big relief," said his father Paul. "I don't have to worry about him any more. We couldn't let him out of our sight before."

Ann-Marie agreed to help out her little brother despite having a somewhat stormy relationship with him. Gareth said they still had their arguments, but he had thanked his sister for her help.

"And she has had her share of the money. She got a TV and video out of it."

The fund-raising was organised by Viv James Promotions. Viv said the events took place at the Crescent Working Men's Club, where Paul was a steward and acting president, at the Reindeer pub in the Groves and Beeswing in Hull Road, and the Poppleton Road WMC.

The singers, who performed for nothing, included Alan Stuart, Tony Phillips, the duo Wysywg, Dave Wolf performing as Roy Orbison, Carolyn Romley, Jet Summers, Patrick Connor, Tony C Weston and also Viv and her husband Jim.

Viv said remaining money in the fund-raising account would go to an appeal at the hospital where Gareth had the transplant.