A GRANDMOTHER is trying to find a donor to save the life of her eight-year-old granddaughter.

Kathy Carter, 68, is trying to help Hollie, who needs a bone marrow match after being diagnosed with a rare bone marrow syndrome earlier this year.

Kathy Carter, from Leicestershire but a regular visitor to her timeshare property in the Lake District, is drawing people’s attention to a Twitter campaign.

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It intends to find a bone marrow match for Hollie.

The campaign to get people to join the national Anthony Nolan register is appealing to people to tweet pictures of themselves with a pair of pants on their head.

Mrs Carter, 68, said: “I want to do everything I can to raise the profile of the campaign for Hollie and all the other children. Hollie is extremely special. She is lively, sporty and funny.

“She was my first grandchild and the relationship with your grandchildren is lovely. You would lay down your life for them, as you would your own children. The local communities in Backbarrow and Newby Bridge have been very supportive.”

“The only cure for Hollie is a bone marrow transplant. All you have to do is provide a saliva sample. So very simple and you could save a life.”

The campaign began when Hollie’s uncle put underwear on his head to make her laugh while he was talking to her on FaceTime.

Welsh rugby player Sam Warburton kick-started a “trend ” on social media when he tweeted a picture of himself with pants on his and his dog Ledley’s head.

Rugby commentator Jonathan Davies and former athlete Jamie Baulch have donned pants and campaign followers include Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, Zoe Ball and Tamsin Outhwaite.

Mrs Carter said: “We are keeping everything positive and doing everything we can to raise the profile for Hollie.

Hollie’s mother, Laura, a GP in Cardiff, said the diagnosis was “an absolute shock”.

“It is the worst thing as a parent you can be told,” she said.

“Her brother, Sam, who is five, has been tested but he is not a match and we are desperate to find a donor for Hollie.

“We have had tremendous support so far and we need this publicity worldwide – not just for Hollie but families in the same situation.”

For more about the campaign for Hollie go to: https://twitter.com/HelpHollie or www.helphollie.com or www.anthonynolan.org