THE grieving father of a teenager who lost his battle with leukaemia is urging others to join the bone marrow register.

Gifted academic and musician Andrew Cook, 19, died at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham on Sunday.

Now Gary Cook, 55, of Swanland, is urging people to help honour his son's memory by signing up to the register.

Mr Cook, a manager at the University of Lincoln, said: "My son was given a chance – a bone marrow match was found. But a lot of people are not that fortunate.

"I would urge anyone who is young and healthy to get on the bone marrow register.

"It would greatly improve people's chances of surviving leukaemia."

Andrew had a bone marrow transplant in January this year after a donor – an exact match – was found in Portugal. But then, in July, the teenager relapsed.

Mr Cook said: "We know what it's like waiting for a suitable donor. Three matches were found from a worldwide database of 12 million people.

"Unfortunately, one person in Australia backed out and another in the US failed a medical."

Despite being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in May 2007, Andrew gained four grade As at AS-level.

Andrew, who attended South Hunsley School in Melton, near North Ferriby, even sat one exam in his hospital bed at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Before that, he achieved 10 GCSEs and had a place at the University of Manchester in his sights, where he intended to juggle a degree in history with his love for playing the guitar.

Mr Cook said: "Andrew was not able to fulfil his potential, but the bravery and determination he showed was an inspiration to many people around him.

"He was a talented guitarist, mainly playing bass for his band, The Fresh. Andrew wanted to be a student during the day and a rock star at night.

"Andrew loved life. When he was well enough he would go out and meet his girlfriend, Carrie, and friends. He was always pleased when his many friends came round to visit him."

Tragically, Andrew was told he had leukaemia just two weeks after his mother Liz Cook was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She passed away on December 14, 2007.

Mr Cook said: "They gave each other a lot of love and support. It was a very difficult time for them as both completed courses of chemotherapy.

"My wife was as proud as any parent could be, as I was, of Andrew."

Charlotte Connelly, donor recruitment manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust, said: "There are 16,000 people worldwide needing a bone marrow transplant.

"Finding a matching donor is their last hope of survival.

"It is absolutely vital we get more people aged between 18 and 40 to join the bone marrow register so we can save more lives."

Dr David Grant, scientific director for registered charity Leukaemia Research, said: "Some 2,500 patients with a blood cancer have a bone marrow transplant in the UK every year.

"Unfortunately, the procedure can be very risky and is not always effective.

"We are funding research to make bone marrow transplants safer and more effective so that more people survive leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma."

Anyone wishing to join the register, can visit the Anthony Nolan Trust's website.