DESCRIBED by her mum as a “needle in a haystack”, the search for a bone marrow donor for a Cwmbran teen continues as she battles cancer.

Emily Clark, 17, who is currently receiving chemotherapy treatment at the Teenage Cancer Trust at the University Hospital of Wales, needs a bone marrow transplant after she was last week dealt the terrible news that her cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, had returned.

The South Wales Argus is helping to raise awareness of donating bone marrow and stem cells to help Emily and the 1,800 other people searching for a match in the UK.

Emily’s mum, Donna Dunn, said: “It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

“As a parent, I joined the register before Emily needed the treatment as I wanted to help someone’s child so I hope that someone is willing to help mine.”

Ann O’Leary, head of register development at Anthony Nolan, the UK’s blood cancer charity and bone marrow register, hopes to dispel some of the myths surrounding donating.

People can join by filling out an online form and a saliva kit will be sent through the post.

Nearly 90 per cent of people donate their stem cells through a process similar to giving blood, called peripheral blood stem cell collection.

The other 10 per cent donate through bone marrow, where they give cells from the bone marrow in their pelvis under general anaesthetic.

Both methods are effective but in some patients bone marrow is required.

The donation will take place at a specialist centre in London and Anthony Nolan organise and pay for travel and hotel expenses.

She said: “Some people experience flu-like symptoms that last a couple of days after blood donation, and from bone marrow donation people sometimes feeling soreness for around a week.

“People who have donated will say that the feeling of helping to save someone’s life outweighs any discomfort.”

Emily, from Llantarnam, has campaigned tirelessly for people to sign up as bone marrow (stem cell) donors, and being in hospital has not stopped the Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School pupil campaigning.

Ms O’Leary added: “People joining must be willing to donate to anyone that they are matched to, but by being on the register they could save a life.

“It is like matching DNA, so around one in every 1,200 people will be a match in a year, so the more people that join then the better chance of finding a match for Emily and people like her.”

Writing on her blog, Emily wrote: “My transplant donation will come from someone selfless. My 15-year-old sister will be tested to see if she is a match for me, but this is only a 25 per cent chance. The likelihood is that I will have cells donated from an unrelated donor, a stranger. A hero.”

They hope to find a match for her by February.

She added: “The thing is, it’s not just someone needing you to become a lifesaver. Now, it’s me- Emily Clark... the girl who aspires to be a doctor and loves to sing.

“Do it for me, do it for the other 1,800 people.

In November 2013, Miss Clark noticed her stomach swelling and her jeans becoming tight, and scans at the Royal Gwent Hospital revealed she had non-Hodgkin (Burkitts) lymphoma.

We want our readers to join the bone marrow register to show their support in the hope that one of them will be a match for Emily.

If you are aged between 16 and 30 you can join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register at www.anthonynolan.org, and if you sign up, please tick Emily’s campaign Remission Possible as a reason for joining.

If you are aged between 17 and 55, you can join the Delete Blood Cancer bone marrow register at www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk.