THE eldest of four Hampshire brothers diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic disorder is to take part in a sponsored walk aimed at helping others in need of bone marrow transplants.

Joshua Hartley has volunteered to take part in the four-mile Walk 4 Life event which is taking place at the Broadlands estate in Romsey on May 22.

In November 2003 Joshua, 13, with his brothers Nathan, 11, Daniel, nine, and Luke, five, were diagnosed with the extremely rare genetic defect known as X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, or Duncan's syndrome.

Their parents, David and Allison Hartley, from Romsey, were told by doctors that the only cure for their sons was a bone marrow transplant.

This led to a massive campaign last year through the Anthony Nolan Trust to which thousands of potential donors responded.

Matches have since been found for all four boys, with two of them, Joshua and Daniel, having already undergone the transplant procedure.

Now Joshua is taking part in the sponsored walk, organised by his family, as a thank-you to the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Joshua said: "It's now ten months since my transplant and I would like to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust to help other people find bone marrow donors."

Mr Hartley said that he was proud of his son.

He said: "It is fantastic that Josh is doing the walk and that he wants to do it.

"It will be a real challenge for him because, with the steroids he is on, it won't be easy.

"Josh is 13 now and understands what he has been going through and this is his way of saying thank you to all those people who have helped him and his brothers."

After the walk the family will be preparing for Nathan to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to undergo the transplant, with Luke also hopefully due to be admitted later this year.

To sponsor Joshua or for information on how to become a donor for the Anthony Nolan Trust, go to the website www.anthonynolan.org.uk.