Saturday, May 11 is an important date which it is to be hoped as many Bradfordians as possible will be marking in their diaries - the day when they have a chance to help to save the life of a woman who has herself done a lot to help others.

Emma Kaminski, struck down with leukaemia but in remission, spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness of the disease and boost the profile of the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity which tracks down bone-marrow donors. Now 30-year-old Mrs Kaminski's illness has returned and it has been discovered that in her case it has become resistant to the drugs used to combat it.

It is vital now that she gets a bone-marrow transplant. And for that to happen, a matching marrow-donor needs to be found.

And that it why May 11 is so important. That is the day when three rooms are to be set aside at the Midland Hotel for Bradfordians to go along and be tested to see if, among them, there might be that one rare, matching individual who can offer the gift of hope to Mrs Kaminksi or to a young Bradford boy currently desperately ill in a London hospital.

It would be wonderful if a near-miracle occurs and a match is found for both of these sick people. But even if that doesn't happen on this occasion, those people who have been tested and put their names down on the register could find that at some time in the future they are able to offer someone else the gift of life - which is surely worth a few minutes of anyone's time.