Team Priaulx lined up in a bid to save six-year-old Afonso Couto’s son. Left to right: Andy and Jo Priaulx, Ian Potter from King’s Life, Lisa Vidamour, Andy’s business manager, and Karen Archer, Geoff Archer and Anna Spencer, from The Anthony Nolan Trust. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0931545)

ANDY PRIAULX told yesterday how an email from a despairing friend had prompted him to front a campaign to find donors for The Anthony Nolan Trust.

The Guernsey racing driver was doing promotional work in Brazil about a fortnight ago when fellow driver Andre Couto told him of his son’s plight.

Six-year-old Afonso needs a bone marrow transplant, but so far no compatible donor has been found.

‘It was the mailing of a desperate man who loves his son so much and was asking for my help,’ said Andy.

‘I logged on to the Saveafonso website and broke down in tears.’

In barely a week, Andy and his team had arranged for The Anthony Nolan Trust to hold a donor clinic in Guernsey and the triple World Touring Car champion was one of the first to sign up.

• Further information is available by emailing newdonor@anthonynolan.org.uk, on the website www.anthonynolan.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7284 1234.
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