Stem cell plea from man with rare blood disorder who just wants to be 'normal again'

A LINCOLNSHIRE man was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening blood disorder after noticing a rash on his legs after running. Dan Chapman has launched an urgent appeal to find a stem cell donor.

- BY LAYCIE BECK [e-mail]

The 31-year-old said that whilst he "can't run away" from his condition at the moment, a transplant would give him his life back.

Mr Chapman has been diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a serious bone marrow disorder where the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells.

He said: "They did a bone marrow biopsy and couldn't get a proper sample. It turned out there just wasn't enough marrow left to take. My bone marrow had failed."

It is estimated that only between 100 and 150 people are diagnosed with the condition in the UK each year, and whilst it can affect any age group, it is most common among people aged between 10 and 20 and over 60.

Before his diagnosis, Mr Chapman said he "felt fine" after a run, but then noticed small, dark red spots on his skin that did not itch.