Joe Cawse, eight years old on Saturday, is living with a timebomb. He is one of very few children with a rare form of leukaemia.

And, although he can lead a relatively normal life, his condition could become critical at any time.

His mother, Sheridan, of Barming near Maidstone, says they are living on a knife edge.

She wants one special gift for her birthday boy: the donor with the gift of life.

Joe's condition, juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, can only be cured by a bone marrow transplant. But no match has been found for Joe - yet.

Now Mrs Cawse is urging people to put themselves on the bone marrow donors' register to help the many thousands of people who, like her son, are desperate.

"There has to be one person out there who matches him," she says.

Give Joe a Chance - the full heartbreaking story of a brave little boy>>>