A BRAVE young leukaemia sufferer could receive the gift of life this Christmas from a 37-year-old stranger who has agreed to become a bone marrow donor.

Dylan Wildman, nine, is to undergo the transplant at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, in December.

His delighted parents Russell and Caroline, of Jubilee Street, Darwen, have been searching for a suitable donor for more than a year.

The couple made a public appeal during the summer, asking people to join the national bone marrow transplant register, to find a match after tests on family were unsuccessful.

"It's wonderful news and we are so relieved," said Caroline. "It means Dylan will spend Christmas in hospital but it's a price worth paying,"

Dylan, who has a younger brother Zac, was first diagnosed with the killer disease at the age of 22 months.

He had been in remission for the last two years and his family thought his battle was over until a test last October revealed the leukaemia had returned.

Caroline added: "All we know about the donor is that he's is a 37-year-old British man. He's not a perfect match but is good enough for the transplant.

"Dylan knows how important the transplant is and wants to meet his donor some time in the future. We've no idea if he came forward as a result of the appeal, but we would like to thank everybody who supported us."

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