THE parents of a Hampshire woman have launched a world-wide appeal for a bone marrow donor who could save their daughter's life.

Nicola Coates, 24, from Winchester, is in a Southampton hospital after being struck down with leukaemia for the third time. She had already fought the disease when she was 12 and 18, but three months ago she was diagnosed with it again.

Now her parents, Gary and Hazel - who have already lost a daughter to cancer - are desperately appealing in the hope a matching donor can be found.

"Nicola was about to take the finals of her journalism course when she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

"We were devastated when we found out as she had been in remission for six years and we thought she had beaten it. Apart from two or three short breaks since then she has been in the Royal South Hants Hospital ever since,'' said Gary, who has travelled down with his wife from the family's home in York to be with their daughter.

"She has undergone almost three months of intensive chemotherapy treatment and has been quite ill.

"Hopefully now she will have a slight reprieve and will be able to go home for a short break before beginning a final course of intensive chemotherapy.''

After her treatment is fin-ished she will have to have a bone marrow transplant in a bid to try to cure her of the disease.

"Neither myself nor my wife or any of Nicola's cousins are the right blood match as Nicola has a rare blood group. We have been looking for a suitable donor for the past three months,'' said Gary.

"There are a couple of possibilities in America that need further exploration,'' he added. Nicola, who lives in Weeke, came down from the North five years ago and has completed an American Studies degree at King Alfred's College, in Winchester.

She was studying for her magazine journalism diploma at Highbury College, near Portsmouth, when the illness struck.

Her sister, Helen, died from a different form of cancer of the blood eight years ago.

The family are now urging potential donors to contact the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust to register.

Potential donors need to be aged between 18 and 40, and fit and healthy.

For information about becoming a donor write to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust at The Granary, Haggs Farm, Follifoot, Harrogate, HG3 1EQ.

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