A FAMILY is praying that a donor clinic will have found a bone marrow match to save the life of their seven-year-old daughter.

Juwayriyyah Sidda has a rare genetic immunodeficiency condition, which has already claimed the lives of two of her sisters, Ayesha and Hajrah.

Without a a bone marrow transplant, the pupil at The Valley Primary School will not reach adulthood.

The Anthony Nolan Trust held a donor clinic this week to get more people to sign up to the register in the hope a match could be found.

Only 15 people attended the clinic at Crompton Children’s Centre in Halliwell, which was focused on finding Asian donors because they are the best chance of a match.

There is a chronic shortage of Asian donors and more are being urged to come forward.

Rebecca Sedgwick, donor recruitment manager for The Anthony Nolan Trust, said: “We are very grateful to the 15 people who registered, but the turnout was disappointing. Every donor that signed up is somebody who could potentially save a life, but we need a lot more people to register.”

Maymuna Sidda, Juwayriyyah’s mother, attended the event. Her daughter’s condition means she does not produce enough white blood cells to kill off infections.

Mrs Sidda, aged 34, of Waldeck Street, Bolton, said: “Nobody in our family is a match so we hope somebody out there can help us. I hope we might find a match from the people who have come forward, but we still need more people to register.”

Prospective donors have to fill in a medical questionnaire and talk through the process with a member staff from the Anthony Nolan Trust before having a blood test.

Mohmed Noorgat, aged 30, of Dunbar Drive, Bolton, signed up at the clinic on Wednesday.

He said: “I read the story in The Bolton News and it encouraged me to come forward. Other people should do it, it’s easy.”

To register as a bone marrow donor, people must be aged between 18 and 40, be in good general health and weigh more than eight stone. For more information, visit anthonynolan.org.uk