DROITWICH'S rugby club is to play host to a special donor recruitment day to encourage more residents to sign up to be a bone marrow donor.

Paul Edwards, junior manager of Droitwich Rugby Club, has organised the session after he was touched by the battle of one of the club members' brother who was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

Mr Edwards said he realised the desperate need for more donors to come forward in the area and decided to encourage residents to do their bit and support The Anthony Nolan Trust, which helps match donors to patients.

"Droitwich RFC is proud to be offering its facilities for such a worthwhile cause," he said. "This will be the second time members of the club have answered to the trust's appeal for more donors to go on the register.

"Thankfully our members' brother is now fit and healthy but I would urge anyone in the local area to give an hour of their time to support the Anthony Nolan Trust and join the register to help others like him."

Debby Jepps, donor recruitment manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust said: "It is fantastic when people approach us wanting to hold donor recruitment sessions, the more eligible people we recruit onto the bone marrow register the more chance we have of finding life saving matches for patients who are in desperate need."

Young males and residents from ethnic minority background are particularly needed but anyone aged between 18 and 40, in good general health and over eight stones is invited.

Should a donor ever match a patient, a short hospital stay is required when the stem cells are harvested.

All expenses would be paid. The session will be held at the rugby club on Hanbury Road on Tuesday, March 1, between 5pm and 8pm.

For more information visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk call 0207 284 1234 or the Trust's 24 hour donor hotline on 0901 8822234.