Graeme’s a hero grandad

We’ve been searching for a hero to help save Chloe Gray - and the quest has thrown up a hero in his own right.

As we revealed this week, more than 300 people signed up to a charity register in the hope of being a stem cell match for the seven-year-old who suffers from the condition Diamond Blackfan Anaemia.

But one of those backing the campaign is her grandad Graeme Bowser ... and he can speak from experience as to just how important the search is.

The 56-year-old former firefighter took the swab test in 2003, and discovered he was a match to help save the life of another.

Graeme has stepped forward to allay people’s fears about the test.

Many think the test is invasive and fear that if you are a match, the follow up tests are painful and potentially life threatening.

Nothing, says Graeme, can be further from the truth.

The test itself involves little more than taking a swab from the inside of the mouth, and filling in a contact form.

And if you are found to be a match, the follow up procedure couldn’t be simpler.

As he says: “It was an absolute doddle to do.”

“Everybody has these images in their minds that there’s going to be a great big needle and it’s going to be difficult,” he said, “but it wasn’t at all.

About the biggest issue was that he had a bit of a back ache, but that was all.

Graeme’s efforts were rewarded with the knowledge that he was helping a woman on the other side of the world. Now he’s hoping his story will encourage even more people to come forward to help save Chloe.

A fantastic story, that deserves a fantastic response.