A Ross family is desperate to raise awareness of the work of the Antony Nolan Trust and encourage as many people as possible to send for a swab kit and register as a potential donor for a bone marrow transplant as they urgently search for a donor to save the life of a five-year-old boy.

Oscar Saxelby Lee, who lives in Worcester, but has family in Ross, was taken ill over Christmas and on December 28th his family were given the news that Oscar has T- cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Mum, Olivia Saxelby, 23, and dad, Jamie Lee, 26, initially thought Oscar was anaemic, after he became unwell on Christmas Day.

He was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital straight away and since then Oscar has followed a rigorous protocol of intense chemotherapy in order to terminate the leukemia blasts in his blood.

However, after four weeks of induction treatment his family have received the even more heartbreaking news that Oscar will need a stem cell transplant as the leukemia he has is too aggressive to treat with just chemotherapy.

Oscar’s Great Aunt, Mandy Robinson, and his Aunt, Sophy Henderson, who live in Ross, are determined to spread the word about swab testing. They told the Ross Gazette that the medical team only has about three months to find a match for Oscar or his chances of survival will “severely diminish”.

Log on to Anthonynolan.org for anyone under 30 or DKMS.org.uk for those over 30 to request a swab test.

Oscar’s school in Worcester is also holding a swab day in a bid to find a match and Mandy has organised 50 swab tests at Brockhampton Care Home, where she works.

Mandy and Sophy are also fundraising to help Oscar’s parents meet the costs of having a child in hospital.

Mandy is holding a quiz night at the Prince of Wales on March 19th and a raffle at Brockhampton Care Home, and any donations for prizes would be gratefully received. If you can help in any way contact Mandy on 07795 244571.