A BURNHAM mum has called for people to register to be bone marrow donors to save her cousin’s life after he was diagnosed with rare blood cancer.

Zoe Sheers, 42, of Crouch Road, is hoping to raise awareness of the condition and find her cousin Charlie Reed, 15, a donor.

Charlie has been diagnosed with two rare types of blood cancer and now urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save his life.

Mrs Sheers, a supply chain manager, took it upon herself to reach out and ask businesses in the area to help with her cause.

She said: “I found out a few months ago.

“I was devastated for him and his parents and haven’t stopped thinking about him and what I could do to help.

“They sent him away with a psychosomatic diagnosis and it took his mother nine months to get heard.

“We don’t want any other children to be misdiagnosed.

“This is why awareness is so important.”

According to charity DKMS someone is diagnosed with a form of blood cancer every 20 minutes in the UK and only around 30 per cent of people can find a blood stem cell donor within their family.

Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK and there are around 2,000 people in the UK searching for a blood stem cell donation each year and over 37,000 people waiting worldwide.

There are more than 17,000 known tissue characteristics so finding a matching donor can prove very difficult.

Mrs Sheers added: “I have put appeals out on Facebook and the response to put posters up and support the cause has been offered by businesses all over the Dengie.

“The support is overwhelming and the people are so very kind.

“There are too many to thank so I do not want to leave anyone out.

“I just want people to know how supportive Burnham and the surrounding villages have been in promoting the cause and all trying to find a donor match for Charlie.”

Charlie, who lives in Leigh-on-sea, is being supported Southend based charity Gold Geese.

A spokesman said: “We have been working hard in raising awareness of childhood cancer throughout September by going gold in the local shops and businesses.

“One of our Gold Kids has two types of blood cancer, meaning his treatment now requires a bone marrow donor.

“We promised to support these families throughout their treatment making it our mission now to register people on the donor register.

“It is pain free to register as it is just a small swab inside your cheek.

“Charlie has been told he needs this transplant to survive now.”

There will be a stall for the swab drive at the Rugby Beer Festival in Millfields, Burnham this Saturday from 1pm.

Members of the public aged from 18 to 55 are also asked to come down and register in Old Leigh in Leigh-on-sea on September 30 between 10am and 1pm.

For details, visit dkms.org.uk or goldgeese.org.