A family bereavment has inspired a teenager to set up a charity event.

The Oaklands Surgery, off Stade Street, Hythe, is hosting an event for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which matches bone marrow donors with people suffering from leukaemia.

It takes place from 5pm-8pm on Thursday, September 11, when representatives from the charity will be on hand to explain its work and invite people to join.

Grace Allingham, 19, got the idea for the event when she was researching becoming a donor herself.

She said: “My nan died from leukaemia nine years ago when I was 10 and when I reached 18 I realised I could go on the register. When I was looking at doing that I saw there was an opportunity to do these sessions and surgery function room is perfect.

“It’s a drop-in thing like the blood donation sessions and there will be people there from the Trust. They will be able to give anyone information on the charity’s work, and if anyone wants to join they can.

“Donating bone marrow has no effect on the health and some people will never get contacted and will never hear from the trust. It is only if there is a match.”

Grace’s father, John, is a partner at the practice, and blood tests will be available at the event thanks to Grace’s mother, a nurse practitioner, and the surgery’s phlebotomist.

There are health checks that need to be done before people can join the bone marrow register.