Family and friends of a one-year-old Sackville girl with leukemia are appealing to the public to help find a life-saving bone marrow donor for her.

Image | Marlie Jean Curwin

Caption: Marlie Curwin, who has leukemia, celebrated her first birthday Feb. 9 at the Ronald McDonald House in Halifax and will spend the next several months at the IWK Health Centre. (Submitted)

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Marlie Curwin was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of the blood cancer, in January and isn't responding to chemotherapy as doctors had hoped.

The next step will be a bone marrow transplant in Toronto, said her cousin, Allison Butcher, who helped organize bone marrow registry and blood donor events in a bid to find a match for Marlie.

"Leukemia isn't supposed to happen to people you know and love, so it was a huge knock for us. But we'll be fine, she'll be fine. She is an amazing tough little girl and and the community support we've gotten has been fabulous," said Butcher.

"So now we just need to find the most fabulous absolute best match in a bone marrow and then we're free and clear."

The first of three Honour Marlie blood drive and OneMatch swabbing events in New Brunswick was held at the Tantramar Civic Centre on Tuesday.

Possible donors, aged 17 to 35, had their cheeks swabbed for DNA testing by the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch stem cell registry program to see if they're a suitable match for Marlie. Erin Allen, a regular blood donor, was among them.

"It's something I've thought of about doing, but when somebody from town, who has little children — I have little children, so I kind of would like to think people would come out and do the same thing for me, if need be," said Allen.

University student Hannah Sholtz also had her cheek swabbed. She said she was happy to help, and to encourage her friends to do the same.

"I already know they are coming a little later, they couldn't come right now, but they are on their way," said Sholtz.

A one-day fundraising event raised $17,000 for Marlie and her family. An online Go Fund Me campaign has also raised more than $8,000 to date.

The next Honour Marlie event is being held on Wednesday in Moncton at 500 Mapleton Rd., from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Events are also being held in Amherst, N.S., on April 11 and April 12.