The Anthony Nolan Trust today urged Bradford people to spare just half an hour and help save somebody's life.

The plea followed a report in yesterday's Telegraph & Argus, which revealed a special bone marrow donor session will take place in Bradford on Saturday May 11.

Organised by the family of leukaemia victim Emma Kaminski, of Wyke, the session aims to recruit hundreds of people onto the trust's bone marrow register.

They also hope to find a life-saving match for a Bradford boy who is desperately sick in a London hospital.

Anthony Nolan Trust recruitment officer Megan Godden said volunteers would need to fill out a simple medical form.

"We will then go through any questions they may have about joining the register and also have a chat with them about their commitment to make sure they are happy to help any patient," she said, "Then they will give a small sample of blood - 9ml. After that their blood gets tissue-typed and entered on the register and at any time they could get a phone call to say they are a possible match.

"If it's busy it might take longer, but if there's a steady flow people can be in and out in 25 minutes. It's very quick, but one day it may save somebody's life."

The Anthony Nolan Trust was set up 25 years ago by Shirley Nolan in the vain attempt to find an unrelated donor for her son Anthony, who died.

There are now about 319,000 people registered, but more - , especially men and members of ethnic minorities - are needed.

Mrs Kaminski, 30, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May 2000.

She has become resistant to chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant is now her only hope.

The donor session will be held at the Midland Hotel, Forster Square, on Saturday May 11 between 1.30pm and 5pm.

Volunteers must be between 18 and 40 - or 43 for males and ethnic minorities - in good general health and weigh more than eight stone.