Nathan Hancock, 22, is suffering lymphoblastic lymphoma, a very rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and after months of treatment was told the cancer had gone into remission in May.


But now the tumour in his chest has returned and whilst he is fighting for his life he needs your help.


Right now he is enduring more intensive chemotherapy but he needs bone marrow urgently to rebuild his immune system so he has a chance of keeping the cancer away.


Because he is of mixed race there is a lack of mixed, black and ethnic minority donors on the bone marrow register. The registers also need more male donors - especially from ethnic backgrounds - between the ages of 18 and 49.


Thousands of people need bone marrow around the world every year and by giving a simple blood test you could save a life.


Nathan is a successful Skegness Town FC player since 2004, grew up in Alford and as a teenager hoped to make a career in football.


He played for Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy and Lincoln United, and was due to go for trials at Aston Villa, the team he supports, when a broken leg spelled the end of a professional career.


His playing in the Lincolnshire League will have brought hin into contact with many local footballers and all are urged to consider joining the bone marrow registers to help Nathan and people in his position.


* To find out more email helenjbell@me.com. The Anthony Nolan Trust is at www.anthonynolan.org.uk, 0901 88 22 234, or newdonor@anthonynolan.org.uk and the National Blood Service’s bone marrow donor service, www.blood.co.uk or 0845 7 711 711.


* Players at Louth United have pledged their support for Nathan by joining a bone marrow register in case they are a match.


Former Skegness Town manager Paul Walden moved to Louth this season, taking around nine Skegness players with him. Nathan is well-known within the football fraternity in Louth because he used to play for Louth Old Boys Juniors and he has now signed a contract to play for the team when he is better.