Parents appeal for stem cell donor to help four-year-old son with leukaemia

The parents of a four-year-old boy diagnosed with leukaemia have launched an urgent appeal to find a stem cell donor.

Tommy Simpson has been in hospital since before Christmas, and was diagnosed with cancer last month.

His parents, London firefighter Nigel and Maxine, are pleading for donors to come forward as no family members have been found to be suitable matches.

The mixed race youngster's white British and black Caribbean heritage means a donor match is harder to find, the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) said.

The blood cancer charity is leading the campaign using the hashtag #Match4Tommy.

Tommy's parents appealed for people to register to become a donor in the hope they could "potentially be able to save the life of our funny and beautiful little boy".

They said: "We know the window of opportunity for an unrelated match being found is going fast with each day passing, that's why we are appealing for people to join the stem cell register now."

Tommy, who is being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, is awaiting test results to see if he will need a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

A number of donor registration drives are being held in the hope of finding a match, with the first held in Croydon on Saturday and another due to take place in Leicester Square on March 19.

London Fire Brigade has backed the appeal, in support of Mr Simpson who works as a firefighter in the capital.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "Firefighters are at the heart of our communities and help others day in, day out to keep London safe.

"Now we need help from the public to respond to this urgent appeal for donors for a London firefighter's son, Tommy.

"If you are yet to join the stem cell registers, please attend this donor registration drive and encourage your family and friends to attend too; Tommy desperately needs your help."