TODAY is a personal D-Day for a 12-year-old Romsey boy who suffers from one of the world's rarest genetic disorders.

Josh Hartley will today, dubbed Donor Day, receive bone marrow from his mum that will save his life. It marks the end of more than a week of tough chemotherapy for the Romsey School pupil - and the start of an isolated recovery process that will last the rest of this year.

Allison Hartley spent five hours yesterday hooked to a machine that siphoned vital stem cells from her blood. Now those cells, which are a nine out of ten match with Josh's, will be transferred to his body via a drip - and will build themselves into a new immune system.

Grandmother Esther Ward, 68, told the Daily Echo: "Allison was a little apprehensive but otherwise fine. We're just waiting now to hear how it goes with transferring it to Josh."

Speaking before the treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, Allison, 39, said: "We thought Joshua would not find a suitable bone marrow donor. I'm just so relieved I'm able to give my son a chance of life."

Josh and his brothers all suffer from X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP), or Duncan's disease, which means they will not live beyond their teens unless they have a vital bone marrow transplant.

Thousands of people have come forward as potential bone marrow donors since the Hartley family went public with their story, nearly three months ago.

Daniel, eight, found a match in an unnamed woman aged 37 - but donors are still needed for Nathan, ten, and four-year-old Luke. People aged 18 to 40 particularly young men, are urged to join the register. Contact the Anthony Nolan Trust by calling 0901 88 22 234.