The family of a teenager who was unable to find a bone marrow donor match have been overwhelmed by community support in Witham.

Femi Biyi, of Howbridge Road, Witham, was just 13 when he was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare disorder in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells and which can be associated with cancers such as leukaemia.

He needed a bone marrow transplant but, due to a lack of donors from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, was unable to find a match.

Now, Femi’s mum Sarah and dad Olatunde hope to encourage more people to sign up as donors and raise money for The Teenager Cancer Trust, which supported their family during Femi’s illness.

Rebecca Russell, 17, a member of the Witham United Reformed Church Youth group, decided to organise a sponsored 12-hour tennis match to raise funds for the charity.

Nineteen teenagers, including 14-year-old Femi who is a member of the group, played tennis at Wickham Bishops Tennis Club, in Great Totham Road from 8.30am until 8.30pm last Monday and raised nearly £800.

See the BWT for the full story