Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has issued a desperate plea to help find a life-saving bone marrow match for his friend’s daughter.

Buckhurst Hill 12-year-old Libby Cotts was diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anaemia in October and was told that she urgently needed a stem cell transplant from a stranger to cure the blood disorder.

Libby, an active sports enthusiast, was due to receive her transplant just before Christmas but, unfortunately, the stem cell donor became unavailable – meaning the search for her stem cell hero goes on.

Six-time and reigning snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan took to Instagram in a heartfelt plea to help find a donor.

He said: “She’s my friend’s daughter. She is in need of a bone marrow transplant. She is suffering from a severe form of aplastic anaemia and is reliant on regular blood tranfusions. The only cure is a bone marrow transplant.”

Libby’s story was the inspiration for a fundraising appeal which has raised over £32,000 in a few short weeks for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

And now the focus is on finding a donor to help save her life.

“It started with a few bruises during the summer holidays”, recalled Libby’s mum Gemma.

“Libby had been on lot of bike rides during lockdown so we didn’t think anything of it – you wouldn’t. There were also some spots on her legs, but we thought it was a reaction to s salt scrub she had tried.

“During a hockey session at school Libby took a hit to her hand. A bruise developed extremely quickly, and the matron knew this wasn’t right. She didn’t think it should be broken but encouraged us to get it checked out.”

Libby was taken to hospital for a check-up. A blood test revealed that there was something very wrong with her immune system.

“It was at that point they mentioned it could be leukaemia”, added Gemma.

“I couldn’t believe it; I was shocked and stunned. It was unbelievable and I started crying –I’d come in to hospital with Libby because of a suspected broken hand! Libby had been feeling absolutely fine. She hadn’t had a cough or cold since February.

“Treatment started straight away – Libby needed platelets, and to be taken to the specialist hospital at Great Ormand Street. They sent us in a cab with a nurse, and Libby’s bloods. The next stage was for a blood transfusion and a bone marrow aspiration to find out what we were dealing with.”

Libby was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a serious condition affecting the blood, where the bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells.

In addition to their fundraising activity the family have also created special wristbands which are being sold on Libby’s website, loveforlibby.org, in aid of Anthony Nolan.

“We’re calling on people to donate anything they can to our fundraising page and spread awareness. There’s a lot going on in the world with covid but even if people can spare £2 – when it’s pooled together it will make a difference.”