A desperate mum is appealing to Croydon residents to help save the life of her six-year-old daughter who has leukaemia.

Little Imogin Appiah was photographed by the Croydon Guardian a month ago after winning a £600 shopping spree in Hamleys toy store.

She looked a picture of health as she posed for photographs with her new toys.

However, things took a bad turn shortly after when mum Sheila discovered that her daughter had a relapse and had to be hospitalised for more chemotherapy treatment.

Sheila has been told that Imogin might need a bone marrow transplant and is appealing for potential donors to go to a registration day at Croydon College on March 23.

Little Imogin Appiah needs a bone marrow transplant



The drive is being organised by Beverley De-Gale, the mother of Croydon’s Daniel De-Gale whose fight against leukaemia inspired hundreds of Afro-Caribbean people to donate bone marrow.

Due to the desperate shortage of donors within the black, mixed race and ethnic minority communities, Imogin only has a one in 100,000 chance of finding a bone marrow match, compared to around one in five if she was white.

Sheila said: “I was told that she is going to need a bone marrow transplant but everyone is praying that she will pull through without it.

“She is having chemotherapy at the moment and is in isolation because her immune system is so low.

“She is still chatty and cheerful playing with her toys and watching DVDs, she looks quite healthy. But you can see that the chemo is having an effect, she is starting to lose her hair and she had such a cute afro.”

Imogin was diagnosed in 2006 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (All) which affects white blood cells vital in producing antibodies for the body's immune system.

She is being treated at St George’s Hospital and is due to be transferred to the Royal Marsden hospital depending on how her treatment progresses.

The bone marrow registration drive is at Croydon College on March 23 from 12pm to 4pm.