A Harrow family has renewed its urgent search for a stem cell donor after a much-loved dad and grandad’s cancer progressed to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Harrow Online previously reported on the appeal for Harish Nersian, 72, who had been diagnosed with high-risk MDS, a rare blood cancer.
His family have now confirmed that the disease has progressed to AML, making the search for a matching donor increasingly urgent.
Urgent search for a donor
Harish’s daughter, Sunita, is working with blood cancer charity DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor register.
Harish urgently needs a stem cell transplant, but finding a match can be more difficult for people from minority ethnic backgrounds. According to DKMS, only 16% of the UK stem cell register is made up of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Sunita previously told Harrow Online: “It’s devastating. My dad is my best friend – he is the kindest man with the heart of gold who always seems to have time for everybody else and simply adores his family and his grandkids. One day, we were planning family dinners, trips, retirement, and the next, we were handed a leaflet and told to process the fact that he has cancer.”
Family asks Harrow to sign up
The family are now urging people, particularly those from South Asian backgrounds, to register and request a free cheek swab kit.
Anyone aged between 16 and 55 who meets DKMS’s health and eligibility requirements can register. The process involves answering health questions and providing cheek swabs which are then tested to see whether the person could be a match for a patient.
Sunita previously said: “The hardest part is knowing medicine isn’t enough. He needs one matching stranger to say yes.”
Harish’s dedicated DKMS campaign page states that his Indian heritage makes finding a match more difficult because matching is closely linked to ethnicity.
Fundraiser supporting the family
A GoFundMe page is also raising money to support Harish and his family as they deal with the financial impact of his illness, including medical costs and time away from work.
The family are hoping that renewed awareness of Harish’s story will encourage more people to register and potentially help find the match he desperately needs.
People can register through Harish’s dedicated DKMS campaign page or support the family through their GoFundMe fundraiser.
NOW READ:
Family raise funds after sudden death of Harrow mum Laura Pearce, 32
Harrow musician helps raise almost £34,000 for Nepal flood relief at Stanmore event
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
