A MUM-OF-FOUR with blood cancer is urging people to become stem cell donors.

Diane Elsworthy was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 2011, after finding herself exhausted for several days after a workout.

The 48-year-old is one of the four in 100,000 people affected by the condition, which causes low production of blood cells, and she will likely need a bone marrow stem cell transplant in future to save her life.

"I was very ill at first and no one really knew what was going to happen, but I have made a lot of changes to live more healthily and I am still hanging in there," she said.

Di, who lives in Charminster, has been fundraising for the charity Delete Blood Cancer since she was inspired by the story of two-year-old Margot Martini, whose battle with leukaemia and search for a compatible stem cell donor touched hearts around the world before her death in October last year.

"It made me feel I need to make a difference," she said.

In August, she and a team from the Littledown Centre, where she has worked as a customer service advisor for 22 years, took part in the Tough Mudder race, and overall this year she has raised more than £6,300 to fund research and help find donors for patients.

On Tuesday, November 24, she is holding an event at the Littledown Centre where people can find out if they can become stem cell donors through a straightforward mouth swab test.

"It is mainly about raising awareness," said Di.

"People think they will have to go through a transplant but it is not like that at all.

"In 10 per cent of cases they need to go into the bone marrow, but for most it is a case of sitting for between four and six hours with a needle in their arm.

"There is no pressure, people are welcome to come and get a leaflet and have a think about it.

"We held a similar event earlier this year and quickly got 50 donors. It can make such a difference."

Any volunteers will be added to the donor list if compatible.

The event runs from 10am to 3pm and 5pm to 8pm. Potential donors must be 17-55 years old and in good health.