YORK youngster Gareth Alexander is looking forward to a healthy new life after undergoing a vital bone marrow transplant from his big sister.

The 11-year-old, who has an ultra-rare syndrome causing him to bruise exceptionally easily, was given his sister Ann-Marie's marrow earlier this month.

He is now confined for up to eight weeks in isolation at Newcastle General Infirmary, because of his vulnerability to infection.

But his father, Paul, says the transplant has started to "take", and Gareth looks set to shed his Wiscott Aldridge Syndrome, which has ruled him out of contact sports and also caused a host of other medical problems.

"He is over the moon," said Paul, of Woodlea Avenue, off Boroughbridge Road. He said Gareth's white cell count was good but doctors had said it would be another three or four weeks before they could be completely certain he had beaten the condition.

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

But the transplant gives him a 95 per cent chance of shedding the syndrome and leading a normal life.

Gareth has always had a somewhat stormy relationship with his sister, who attends Lowfield School, Acomb, but she agreed to donate her marrow after tests showed she was the best match. She recovered instantly and went home from hospital on the day of the transplant, said Paul.

Meanwhile, a fundraising drive in aid of Gareth, spearheaded by Crescent Working Men's Club, where Paul is steward and acting president, has already collected about £600.

The money will be used to buy him a lap-top computer so he can communicate with his mates at Poppleton Road Primary School during his long and boring period of recuperation.

Paul said an evening at the club, organised by booking agents Viv James Promotions, had raised about £400.

Money had also been raised at the Beeswing and Reindeer pubs in York, a cake stall had been held at Ann-Marie's school and a girl in Woodlea Avenue had gone house-to-house collecting money.

Now another music evening and raffle is planned for this Sunday at the White Rose pub in Cornlands Road, Acomb.

"People have been brilliant," said Paul. "It's been really great."

PICTURE: Gareth Alexander and his sister, Ann-Marie, before the operation