THE family of a courageous little girl 'with the strength of a mammoth' are appealing for the community to help her find a bone marrow donor.

Seven-month-old Harriett, known as Hattie, has been diagnosed with a rare illness called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID).

She needs chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, but family members are unlikely to be suitable.

Her mum and dad, Helen Mylott and Chris Platt, from Acton Bridge, are now urging people to consider registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust to see if they are a potential match,

Helen said: "Our gorgeous happy little girl was smiling at three weeks old and has never really stopped.

"She loved her weekly visit to the Acton Bridge toddler group and spent her time laughing at the other children.

"Her other big love was her Turtle Tots swimming lessons in Winsford, especially loving the underwater swim.

"Looking back now at all the symptoms to this awful illness that she suffered – horrendous eczema which was repeatedly infected, rotavirus that was given to her as a vaccine and will never have left her, causing tummy ache, diarrhoea and failure to thrive.

"She has shown just how courageous and brave she is – always smiling at me when she was so weak and worn out.

"I'm so so proud of this tiny girl with the strength of a mammoth.

"We have to find the perfect match for her, she has to get through this and grace the world with her joy and smiles."

Family friend Claudia Dickens has organised a donor recruitment day and fundraising coffee morning in Acton Bridge to help find a match for Hattie.

People aged between 16 and 30, in good health and weighing more than 7st 12lbs, are urged to attend the recruitment day, which takes place from 10am to 8pm at Acton Bridge Community Centre on Friday, April 1.

At the event people can apply to join the Anthony Nolan Trust register and give a saliva sample.

Results of the sample will be put in the trust database and every time someone needs a transplant their tissue will be automatically compared to the 490,000 people on the register.

The recruitment event also includes a fundraising coffee morning in aid of the trust.

Claudia is hoping to attract 50 suitable people to register.

For more information ring her on 07738 058656, email HarriettPlattAppeal@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/Harriett-Platt-Appeal.