THE mother of a young boy diagnosed with an incurable blood disease is campaigning for more people to donate bone marrow.

Paula Mason says the Anthony Nolan Trust particularly needs men in their early 20s to sign up and potentially save a life.

Her son Dylan, 11, was diagnosed with the very rare genetic disease fanconi anaemia, which causes bone marrow failure and means he is surviving on blood transfusions.

Fortunately a bone marrow match has been found for Dylan in France and he is due to have a transplant later this year that will help him.

Ms Mason, 48, from Polegate, and Dylan’s older sister Georgia Kemp are staging a special colour run event in Eastbourne this weekend to raise funds and awareness for Antony Nolan and the Clic Sargent children’s cancer charity.

She said “I really didn’t know that they particularly needed young men and it can be difficult to encourage them to come forward.

“Most people that age prefer going down to the pub rather than donating bone marrow.

“But the process is so easy and straightforward and you could end up saving someone’s life. That has got to be worth something.

“We were fortunate a donor was found for Dylan but there are many others out there who are not so lucky so the more people who sign up, the greater the chances of more being helped.”

Ms Mason said the problems with Dylan began last summer when he had a throat infection that he could not shake off.

Eventually the doctor decided to run a blood test which was carried out at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

An hour later they got a phone call saying there was a problem and more tests were needed as a matter of urgency.

More tests and transfusions followed and Dylan was eventually diagnosed at the Royal Marsden in London at the start of this year.

Ms Mason said: “Most people think life changing circumstances won’t happen to them until it does.

“To hear the news your child needs a bone marrow transplant to potentially save their life is more than devastating.

“To find out there may not be a suitable donor match in a world population of more than seven billion people is horrific and terrifying and should be unheard of.

The 4km colour run takes place on Royal Parade, Eastbourne , on Sunday (July 5) from 9am to 1pm Tickets cost £20 from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/colour-run-sussex-tickets-16430343600 and must be printed out and brought along on the day.