By Dave Burke

dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk

The mother of a little girl bravely battling leukaemia has released a harrowing photo of her in her hospital bed to give an insight into the gruelling treatment she is having to endure.

Imogin Appiah is on a heavy course of chemotherapy which will not finish until a suitable bone marrow donor is found to save her life.

The photo, taken by her mum Sheila while Imogin was in isolation at the Royal Marsden Hospital, was given to the Advertiser in the hope it will shock the people of Croydon into action ahead of a bone marrow registration drive tomorrow (Saturday).

Sheila, of Aurelia Road, Croydon, says she needs people to see how desperately her daughter needs help.

She said: "People see her when she's out in Croydon and think she's okay, they don't see her when she's like this.

"I want people to see how serious this is."

This week Sheila revealed that Imogin has been suffering with nightmares, which she attributes to the tough treatment she has gone through.

As the Advertiser took the pair for a walk around Croydon town centre a number of people - often complete strangers - stopped her with messages of goodwill.

Sheila said: "A lot of people stop and say 'Is she the girl from the newspaper?'

"We're getting a good response from the community, and people are saying how sorry they are.

"I say to them 'If you can, please do something'."

Sheila adds that she has had to toughen up in order to be there for Imogin in her hour of need.

Sheila said: "People cry and I wipe their tears.

"When you're faced with the reality that your child needs you to get them through this life and depends on you for their confidence of survival, you don't have time to cry."

The youngster, who relishes life and even through all her troubles always has a smile on her face, is set to return to the Royal Marsden, in Sutton, this week for more treatment.

Tomorrow, shoppers will be able to do something to help Imogin and others fighting leukaemia.

A bone marrow registration drive is being held on the ground floor of the Whitgift Centre, opposite WHSmith, and anyone who can help has been urged to come along.

It only takes 20 minutes to register as a potential donor and people just need to give a small blood sample.

The drive, hosted by the African and Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT), will be happening between midday and 5pm.