An urgent appeal has been launched to find a donor who could save a teenager’s life.

Sophie Bosley suffers froma rare formof leukaemia and her only chance of a cure is a bone marrow transplant.

The teenager’s family have organised a recruitment event for donors later this month and are urging people to come forward to sign up to the Antony Nolan register.

Mum Kirstin Bosley, 43, said: “Her doctors talked about the need for a bone marrowtransplant from the beginning – it’s the only hope of a cure for her.

“Sophie’s sister Emily is not a match, so we need to find a matching donor through Anthony Nolan.”

They are desperately hoping a match can be found so the teenager can fulfil her dreams of going to Oxford University and becoming a journalist.

Sophie was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in October 2011, aged 14.

The condition is extremely rare among children and young adults, with fewer than 15 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year.

Mrs Bosley an early years teacher, said: “When Sophie was diagnosed, we felt absolute devastation.

“I just wished it was me instead and that I could take it away from her.”

Despite living in uncertainty while she awaits a transplant, Sophie has continued to embrace life.

Mrs Bosley from Midhurst, said: “Sophie has always been a highly-motivated and positive girl.

“Despite her diagnosis, she passed all 12 of her GCSEs, while carrying on her hobbies such as Girl Guiding andmusic.

I’m so proud of her.

“She’s now aspiring to go to Oxford and one day wants to be a journalist. I think it’s this positive and determined frame of mind which has helped her a lot as she has coped with her illness.

“In the meantime, Sophie is taking each day as it comes, studying for her AS Levels and carrying on with her music as well.

“Lots of local people ask me what they can do to help, and I feel the most important thing is to raise awareness.

“People who are eligible can join the donor register and even if you can’t join the register, there’s so much you can do by spreading the word and raising funds.”

Ann O’Leary, head of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: “Many people don’t realise howeasy it is to join the bone marrow donor register and how simple the donation process is.”

The donor recruitment event is being held on January 22 at Chichester College between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

People aged 16 to 30 and in good health are eligible to join the register.

All they need to do is provide a saliva sample and fill in a form.

For more details, visit www.anthonynolan.

org.