 The boys are four of only 100 people diagnosed with XLP |
More than 500 people have given blood samples to become bone marrow donors - and help four brothers who have one the world's rarest diseases. Joshua, 12, Nathan, 10, Daniel, eight, and Luke Hartley, four, suffer from X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP), which attacks the immune system.
Most sufferers do not live to their teens but a bone marrow transplant could save them.
Hundreds of potential donors attended three centres in Hampshire.
Among those giving blood were 45 players from Romsey Rugby Football Club and the town's fire brigade.
People travelled from Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth.
Doctors, nurses and members of the Anthony Nolan Trust, which runs a national register of bone marrow donors, took samples and gave advice for four hours.
The blood will now be tested to see if it is a match for the brothers or anyone else on the bone marrow register.
The Hartley family, who attended a testing session at Volumes bookshop in Bell Street, Romsey, were overwhelmed by the response from the public.
About 370 bone marrow transplants are carried out in the UK each year.
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