A football player with a rare genetic disease is in urgent need of a kidney transplant to save her life.

Leyla Latif regularly plays football for the Dartford FC women's reserve side based at Princes Park but has been forced to shield since the pandemic.

The 35-year-old from Sidcup suffers from tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition that causes mainly benign tumours to grow in the brain and vital organs.

In Leyla's case, the disease has affected one of her kidneys and she recently underwent an operation after it threatened to burst.

It's just one of several medical interventions the amateur footballer has had to endure as she continues to take a form of cancer drug to shrink the tumours she has suffered since birth.

After every operation Leyla has returned to doing what she loves best – playing football with friends.

But towards the end of last year she started dialysis treatment which is required when you develop end stage kidney failure and Leyla, now desperately needs a kidney transplant.

"She always played football," says mum Hanim Mehmet, "She can't wait to be back again but she has to get better."

"She can't play anything unless something happens."

Ms Mehmet has been taking her daughter to and from her hospital appointments by car throughout the pandemic as Layla is now deemed more vulnerable.

She has two other daughters, Dee and Shy, but sadly they are not deemed suitable fits for a kidney.

"They have been tested and it is not suitable," said Hanim, who also failed to match when examined, adding "they have to be healthy and 100 percent suitable to take the kidneys."

"My best friend failed on the very last test."

It has been heartbreaking for Leyla, says Hanim, who has been appealing for a kidney donor to come forward for the best part of a year.

"A lot of people as soon as they hear they come forward then when they sit down and think about it they want to change their mind," she said.

"It breaks her heart when she finds out they are not coming forward."

Layla's team mates at Dartford FC have been doing what they can to help including putting out an urgent appeal on social media.

They've also been keeping in touch with Leyla and filling her in on all the latest happenings at the club now amateur sport has returned.

"Luckily my friends at Dartford and my best friend in the reserves are always keeping me up to date with the scores so I'm not missing out," said Leyla.

"They are always checking in on me and asking me how I am, which is really nice."

Leyla is A+ blood type. If you can help or know someone who can email Hanim Mehmet direct at hanim_mehmet14@hotmail.co.uk

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