Her heart-rending story touched a nation and even inspired its Prime Minister. And now the plight of Alice Maddocks has been set down in a book which will help save lives across the world.

For The Love Of Alice recounts her family's battle to find a bone marrow donor for the plucky ten-year-old who sufferers from the rare life-threatening disease, Aplastic Anaemia.

And while the one-in-a-million hunt has proved fruitless so far, their tireless campaigning - including a televised confrontation with Tony Blair - has given hope to many thousands of others.

The book has already prompted an "enormous response" from the public and hits the shelves of Waterstones in Bradford next week.

When Alice was diagnosed in 2000, her mum Carol and dad Dean, pictured with her, were horrified to discover that no effective bone marrow register existed and began a crusade to change this.

The couple relentlessly lobbied health chiefs to create a proper register, giving their daughter and others hope of a cure.

But Mr Maddocks - a policeman at the Bradford South division - said: "It was like banging our heads against a wall. It didn't matter what we did, we just seemed to get nowhere."

Their breakthrough finally came in front of millions of television viewers on a live episode of Question Time featuring Tony Blair.

When the Prime Minister said he "couldn't make a specific commitment on bone marrow" Mrs Maddocks angrily reacted: "No it's not good enough, no Mr Blair."

The Premier agreed for a Downing Street 'summit' with the couple and heads of relevant health services.

"We went down to do a presentation on the problems people faced and what needed to be done," said PC Maddocks.

"It was a really nerve-wracking time because if he turned us down we knew there was nowhere else for us to go for help."

But after hearing of Alice's plight, Mr Blair pledged to make a change and remained true to his word.

PC Maddocks said: "I was sceptical at first but then we had a letter faxed from Mr Blair while he was on holiday in Mexico confirming they were going ahead."

Since then the Government has pumped more than £17 million into the British Bone Marrow Register which has attracted 80,000 people in its first two years - making it the fastest growing of its kind in the world.

And Mr Blair has continued to take a keen interest in Alice's welfare and even wrote the foreword to her book.

In it he told how "Dean and Carol have shown astonishing energy and commitment not just to help their own daughter but all those who need bone marrow transplants."

He added: "It's no exaggeration to say these efforts will save scores of lives."

Money from each book sale will go to the Alice Rose Trust which supports sick children.

PC Maddocks said while a suitable donor has still not been found for Alice, each new name on the register gave her increasing hope.

"We are hoping that as well as supporting the Trust, the book will inspire people to become donors and help save lives."