Thousands sign up to help eight-old-year Evie from Sleights, Whitby, find a donor

Thousands of people have joined the hunt to find Sleights’s Evie Hodgson a stem cell donor.
Evie Hodgson.Evie Hodgson.
Evie Hodgson.

A Facebook page calling on people to sign up for the donor register launched by friends of the eight-year-old’s family has achieved more than 10,000 members since it was started on Monday.

“We’re delighted,” said Evie’s mum Tina.

“The message is really getting out there.

Evie Hodgson with her parents Tina and Andrew, and her brother William.Evie Hodgson with her parents Tina and Andrew, and her brother William.
Evie Hodgson with her parents Tina and Andrew, and her brother William.

People have been in touch from all over the world - America, Australia - and that’s exactly what we want.

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“It doesn’t matter where you are from, everyone gets added to a central register.”

Evie was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in May - a rare and devastating blood disease.

The most successful treatment is a stem cell transplant and, amazingly, a perfect match - the only one in the world - was found.

But just a few weeks before the operation and with no explanation, the donor pulled out.

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Evie is about to start a three-month trial of medication to help with her condition but ultimately a transplant is her best hope of a cure.

Until then, her body struggles to fight off even the most minor infection and she needs blood transfusions twice a week.

Desperate to help, friends of her family Kimberley and Rob Allen launched the Evie Needs a Hero Facebook page earlier this week.

They are appealing for people to register for a swab kit and join the donor register.

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They are also asking people to share the page to help spread the word and boost the chances of Evie - and other people like her - finding a match.

They say stem cell donation is much less invasive than organ donation and, in many cases, just like giving blood.

People aged over 30 can register here while those aged under 30 can register here.

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