FAMILY and friends of an eight-month-old girl with a rare blood disorder are appealing to the community to help them on Friday.

Harriett Platt, 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, along with family friend Claudia Dickens, have organised a donor recruitment day and fundraiser on Friday, April 1, in conjunction with the Anthony Nolan Trust.

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.

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.

A tea, coffee and cake sale will run alongside the recruitment day to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a pioneering charity saving the lives of people with blood cancer.

Helen Mylott, Harrietts mum, said: "Harriet has shown just how courageous and brave she is ā€“ always smiling at me when she was so weak and worn out.

"Iā€™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."

For more information email HarriettPlattAppeal@gmail.com or ring Claudia on 07738 058656.