THOUSANDS of people across the UK are in dire need of bone marrow transplants.

People like Nikki Braterman, featured in today’s Argus, face a ticking time bomb unless they find a donor.

But she first of all needs to find a ‘perfect-match’ stem-cell donor from an Anglo-Burmese or Irish background.

If battling myeloid leukaemia wasn’t bad enough, she is struggling to find people to register to the national register who may hold the key to a new life for her.

With this in mind, it is important the public, media and government do all they can to raise awareness of the need for donors and the various ways people can get involved.

If you think you may be able to help people like Nikki, then please check out your national registry. In the UK, this can be with the Anthony Nolan Trust for those aged 16-30, with Delete Blood Cancer or with the British Bone Marrow Registry.