Buy photos Rhiane with kickboxing coach Dev Barrett and Specials front man Neville Staple. Picture by Jon Mullis 05.014.015.cov.jm5 (www.buyphotos247.com)

A SERIOUSLY ill girl needs help from the public in finding a matching blood stem cell donor.

Rhiane Francois, from Whitley, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia last September and has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy, the latest of which started on Monday.

Once her treatment has finished, the seven-year-old is likely to need a stem cell donation to save her life.

For many blood cancer patients a blood stem cell donation is their only chance of survival, but only half of the people diagnosed in the UK find a matching donor.

And Rhiane, her family and friends are working with Delete Blood Cancer UK to encourage people to register as potential stem cell donors.

When the family were told about Rhiane being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, obviously we had mixed emotions, said her aunt Natalie Francois.

You don't expect a child to have such an illness, but seeing just how positive Rhiane has continued to be inspired us to do something positive that would not just potentially save Rhiane but also one of the many other patients in need of a stem cell donation.

On Saturday they held an event at the Belgrade Theatre which attracted over 400 visitors to make people aware of Rhiane's condition and create interest in becoming a donor.

Organisers said it was a huge success with similar events also being held in London and Glasgow.

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Donor bid inspired by Rhiane's fight against 'poorly bug'