Friends of sickle cell victim fight blood disease with X-Factor style talent show

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They aim to tell young people about sickle cell anaemia, which killed their friend Leona Dehaney at the age of 18, in the hope of raising awareness and finding a cure.

The condition means red blood cells are sickle-shaped, so cannot squeeze through small blood vessels. This can lead to severe pain and complications including chest infections, organ damage and strokes.

After Leona's death in 2004, friends Cherelle Augustine, 23, from Kenton, Nordia James, 23, of Wembley, Marsha Mothersill, 20, of Northolt, and 24-year-old Edward Maughan, from Hendon, formed the Broken Silence group. They have raised £11,000 for London hospitals and visited schools.

Ms Augustine, a student at City University, said: "We held the first talent show in 2006. Young people come along knowing nothing about sickle cell, but afterwards they know all about it."

In Britain the disease affects one in seven people of black African origin and one in eight of black Caribbean origin, but only one in 540 Caucasians. An estimated 17,500 people in the UK have the disease. The talent show is at Brent town hall on 26 September.