A BRAVE six-year-old who underwent a traumatic bone-marrow transplant released balloons at his primary school yesterday as part of the Gift for Life campaign to encourage people to become donors.

Michael Gardener, of Newark Place, Fulwood, has been in and out of hospitals since he was a baby.

The plucky youngster, who attends Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic School in Fulwood, had the transplant when an immune deficiency threatened his life.

His mother, Linda Gardener, said: "When he was five months old we feared for his life. We were called to his bedside and he was very poorly. Michael's first Christmas was spent in hospital." Michael had numerous blood tests in the Royal Preston Hospital. Eventually, because Preston didn't have a paediatric ward, he was transferred to Sheffield where he was later diagnosed with hyper Immuno Globulin Syndrome (IGM), a condition which affects the immune system, and a bone-marrow transplant was critical.

His parents, Laurence and Linda, were both screened to see if their tissue would be a suitable match and his 12-year-old sister Rebecca was tested. No one in his family could provide a close enough match, so the search went nationwide.

The UK donor register failed to provide a match and finally after 18 months and a worldwide search a person was found. Linda said: "A lady from Kansas City in America was our donor. We're not allowed to know who she is, but I can never thank her enough.

"I appeal to people to think about becoming donors. It has given Michael a life."

The Gift of Life campaign is being launched by the National Blood Service to encourage people to become donors. For information ring National Blood Service Call Centre on 0845 7711 711.