A York youngster with an ultra-rare syndrome is hoping a bone marrow transplant from his big sister will transform his life.

Eleven-year-old Gareth Alexander doesn't exactly get on with his 13-year-old sibling Ann-Marie. "They're always scrapping," said his mum Susan.

But now Ann-Marie has agreed to donate her marrow to Gareth to help him beat Wiskott Aldrige Syndrome, believed to be suffered by only a score of people in Britain.

Susan, of Woodlea Avenue, off Boroughbridge Road, said the condition, which causes a lack of platelets in the blood, meant Gareth bruised exceptionally easily. This ruled out all contact sports - to his great frustration.

He also suffers repeated infections and severe headaches, gets cramps in cold weather and runs a risk of developing cancer later in life.

"The last ten years have been hell," said Gareth's father, Paul.

But the transplant, due to carried out at Newcastle General Infirmary in about six weeks time, will give him a 95 per cent chance of shedding the syndrome and living a normal life for the first time.

Paul said all the family had been tested and Ann-Marie, a Lowfield School pupil, proved to be the best match.

She had agreed to go ahead with the procedure, under which marrow will be extracted from her pelvis.

Gareth will be given chemotherapy before the transplant. Afterwards, he will be put in an isolation unit for six to eight weeks, with a further lengthy spell of recuperation to follow, and boredom will be a big problem.

So a big fundraising drive is being planned at Crescent Working Men's Club, where Paul is steward and acting president, to buy him a laptop computer.

Gareth plans to use it to e-mail his mates at Poppleton Road Primary School.

The club's booking agents Viv James Promotions are organising and compering a series of fund-raising events. Fellow club member Kim Bryant also plans to collect for Gareth outside supermarkets and in Acomb high street.

mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk

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