Villagers galvanised by the plight of leukaemia victim Nicola Coates have raised more than £14,000 for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Pictured, front from left, Alan Terry, landlord of the Wenlock Arms, Wheldrake, Nicola Coates and Ruth Dodd, regional controller of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust

Nicola, who turned up to last night's cheque presentation at the Wenlock Arms in Wheldrake, praised the community effort, saying: "It's brilliant. The amount raised just keeps going up and up. It's a good community thing."

And, speaking only hours after having an extensive interview with doctors at St James' Hospital, Leeds, she revealed that her own bone marrow transplant is now set to go ahead at Jimmy's some time in February. But a whole series of complications must be ironed out first.

She said that while a compatible donor has been found for her in America, St James's staff still wanted to check things out for their own peace of mind. At the same time, the bone marrow unit at Jimmy's was also being refurbished, causing a bit of delay. Then a major logistical operation had to be organised to ensure the marrow could be transplanted to her in Leeds within 24 to 36 hours of it being removed from the donor in the USA. "I also have to be well enough for the transplant, and I am trying to build up my health and get as strong as I can," she added.

Villagers decided to help the trust after hearing how Nicola, 25, needed a transplant to combat her illness, and a whole series of events have been organised at Wheldrake and also elsewhere in the York area.

Ruth Dodd, the Anthony Nolan Trust's regional controller, said people from Wheldrake and further afield had rallied round wonderfully. The money raised would pay for another 290 volunteers' blood to be tested so they could go on the trust's register of potential bone marrow donors.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.