THERE has been an overwhelming response to a desperate plea from the parents of a girl suffering with two extremely rare immune diseases.

Offers of help to find a bone marrow transplant match for Tia Pugh have poured in from around the world but her family said efforts must continue as the odds of finding a match for the three-year-old are extremely slim.

Tia, from Bath Road, Worcester, is believed to be the only person in the world to suffer from a combination of STAT1 deficiency as well as a tuberculosis-like illness called mycobacterium malmoense.

Her father Nick is British while her mother Yupa is a mixture of Thai and Cambodian which will make it difficult to find a suitable match.

She is due to return to Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, tomorrow and might face another skin biopsy after she broke out in painful boils over her legs.

Hundreds of people have signed up to the Facebook page Tia Pugh Immune Deficiency since her story was featured in your Worcester News pledging to sign up to the bone marrow transplant register.

Others have offered to run events to raise awareness of Tia's plight and one woman has promised to hand out leaflets in New York.

Anthony Nolan Trust will be running a sign up event for 16 to 30 year olds at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester on Thursday from 3pm to 7pm.

People can also sign up at www.anthonynolan.org.

Alternatively, people aged between 18 and 49 can also sign up at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow.