In 2006, 25-year-old Ben was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and joined 7,000 others desperately hoping to find a match on the bone marrow donors register.

"I was so lucky," says Ben, "Donors must be 18 to 40-years-old and the one match for mine was a 39-year-old!

"For many there is just no match and you wonder why everyone isn't signed up to the register. That's why I wanted to hold a bone marrow clinic to give local people the chance to save a life, like mine was."

Ben reached a point where he could not walk as the muscles in his legs had grown too weak, and promised himself he would never be at that point again: "I started walking short distances and gradually built up.

A year on I'm running into Oswestry from Glyn Ceiriog. I can't join the register myself now, so I wanted to find other ways to help.

Joining the register requires a small blood sample and a few may turn out to be a match, going on to save a life. Donating bone marrow itself requires a minor medical procedure. Potential donors must be 18-40 years old, in good health, over eight stone and willing to help save the life of any patient they match.

• Ben's clinic will take place on March 19 at Bellan House, in Oswestry from 4-7pm.

For more information visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk or telephone 02072 841234.