A Harrow resident is urging members of the public to sign up to the stem cell register in order to help find a potentially life-saving match for her father.

The campaign was launched by Sunny Andrea, whose 72-year-old father Harish Nersian received a diagnosis of high-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome last year, a uncommon form of blood cancer that has since developed into aggressive Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Ms Andrea described the situation as devastating, stating that her father is her closest companion, her whole world, and an exceptionally caring individual with a generous spirit who always makes time for others and deeply loves his family and grandchildren. She explained that the family had been making plans for dinners, outings, and retirement when they were suddenly handed an information leaflet informing them that he had cancer.

A stem cell transplant represents Mr Nersian’s sole chance of recovery, though his Indian ancestry makes identifying a compatible donor more difficult due to insufficient representation of minority groups among those registered.

Just 16 percent of registered donors in this country come from minority ethnic backgrounds, while merely seven percent of the eligible British population overall have signed up.

Ms Andrea expressed that the situation appeared profoundly unjust, noting that her father is battling blood cancer but, because of his Indian background, faces reduced prospects of locating a matching donor who could preserve his life. She revealed that she herself was undergoing testing as a potential donor, though the likelihood of her being suitable is not high. Her ten-year-old son has been enquiring whether he could serve as the donor, such is his affection for his grandfather, which has caused her considerable distress. She emphasised that the most difficult aspect is recognising that medication alone cannot solve the problem and that her father requires one compatible stranger to agree to help.

With assistance from the blood cancer organisation DKMS, the family is making an urgent plea for individuals to register as potential stem cell donors.

DKMS representative Bronagh Hughes stated that for patients like Harish, an unrelated person joining the register could restore their lives. She noted that the procedure is straightforward and offers a straightforward opportunity to provide someone with another chance. Becoming registered only requires completing a brief health questionnaire and performing some simple, painless mouth swabs. She pointed out that while it demands just ten minutes of someone’s time, the individual could be the match that someone desperately requires. If matched with a patient and asked to donate, DKMS would provide support throughout the entire process.

Those aged between 16 and 55 who are in generally good health are eligible to register.

Prospective donors can obtain a complimentary swab kit through the DKMS website. After completing some health questions and providing a cheek swab, individuals are included on the register where they may be identified as a match for someone requiring treatment. When a match is discovered, the donation process is typically uncomplicated, with approximately 90 percent of cases not requiring surgery and resembling the experience of giving blood platelets.

Mr Nersian’s relatives are particularly keen to encourage people of South Asian descent to sign up, though they highlight that every new registrant improves the possibility of finding a match for someone requiring help.

Among those lending support to the campaign is Ms Andrea’s brother-in-law, performer Peter Andre, who has promoted the initiative across social media platforms.

Approximately 2,000 individuals in the United Kingdom are currently awaiting a stem cell donor. Blood cancers are identified every 14 minutes throughout the country and represent the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death. With almost 13,000 annual fatalities, the demand for donors remains pressing and constant.

Ms Andrea concluded by stating that the family simply needs the appropriate person to join the register, and that person could be anyone. She said that individuals signing up to support her father would mean everything to them and might even save someone’s life.