Laura Cox, five, who suffers from the rare blood condition Evans Syndrome, with her mum Jo and elder sister Emily

A Shropshire mum is urging people to give blood after her daughter needed 30 transfusions because of a rare auto-immune disease.

Five-year-old Laura Cox, from Shrewsbury, needs blood and blood related products because she suffers from Evans syndrome – a condition in which her antibodies attack their own red blood cells and platelets.

Her mother, Jo Cox, fears she will probably “need blood her whole life”.

Laura’s condition meant she had to stay in hospital for a month seven weeks ago and today her mum has spoken of how it felt to have her home for Christmas.

Mrs Cox said: “Because of the treatment she received we were able to have her at home for Christmas.

“The blood really makes a difference. Every time she receives blood we say a silent thank you to whoever donated it.

“It is a life-saving treatment, she will probably need blood her whole life. It’s amazing how she’s responded really well to the treatment.”

Laura, who also lives with her dad Paul and sister Emily, eight, still has to have weekly check-ups and take steroids.

Mrs Cox is now urging people to give blood in the New Year.

She said: “It doesn’t cost anything, just time.

“Even if you only give blood once it makes a difference to someone as little as Laura.

“Without people donating she wouldn’t be here.” Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Our thanks go to everyone in Shropshire, both new and regular blood donors, for their blood donations.

“You will all have helped to make a real difference to someone’s life.

“The support we received from our Shropshire donors throughout the year meant that we were able to meet the needs of all the patients who required blood, so on behalf of all those patients we’d like to thank everyone who gave blood in 2009.

“However the demand for blood never stops and we do always need more donors so even if you didn’t make it before Christmas, please remember that we always need new people to come forward.”

She said giving blood was vital to ensure that patients undergoing surgery and receiving treatment for cancer and blood diseases, such as leukaemia, continue to receive the transfusions they need.

To find out more about donating blood call 0300 1232323 or visit www.blood.co.uk