Nine-year-old Matthew was taken seriously ill with a rare form of cancer when he was a toddler. He needed dozens of units of blood and platelets to help him recover from major surgery and chemotherapy.

Now Matthew and his family are urging other people to become blood donors and help save lives.

His mum Angela said: "I have always given blood but when Matthew was so ill it made me realise how important it is. Just a few minutes are all it takes to help save a life."

Matthew, a pupil at Lightcliffe Primary School, was only two when his mum and dad became concerned about his health. At the time the family was living in Germany where dad Mark was serving in the Army.

"I noticed that Matthew's stomach had started to swell and I was getting worried because he was not eating," said Angela. "The doctor sent us straight for tests to the hospital and cancer of the liver was diagnosed the same day."

For Angela, who was 36 weeks pregnant with Matthew's sister Libby at the time, it was a huge shock but she realised that fast action was essential. The next day the family flew back to England so that Matthew could get specialist treatment at hospitals in London.

"We just left our old life in Germany behind and came back with all we could carry in a couple of suitcases. There were doctors and nurses on the plane for Matthew and a midwife on the plane for me!"

Matthew spent months in hospital recovering from surgery to remove a tumour on his liver and then seven sessions of chemotherapy which has impaired his hearing.

"We were told he had a very rare form of cancer that affected only one in 10 people a year on average and that he had a 50-50 chance. It was completely devastating but slowly Matthew turned a corner and started to get better. He needed numerous blood and platelets transfusions.

"When Libby was born Matthew was still going through the worst of the treatment so it was all very stressful. After his chemo he picked up an infection so, in total, he was in and out of hospital for nine months but through it all he was fantastic, so uncomplaining and accepting of everything. We became experts in all the medical terms and techniques."

The Whiley family now lives in Cliffe Avenue, Lightcliffe, and Matthew, though he still needs yearly check-ups, is an energetic lad who enjoys football, trains and cooking.

"Having a sick child just puts things in proportion. I believe it is so important that people are prepared to become blood donors. I want to thank everyone who takes that half-hour out of their day to give blood because without them Matthew wouldn't have gone on to have the full healthy life that he has now," said Angela.