A Leicestershire MP is supporting a mum of twins who is desperately seeking a stem cell donor.
Meena Kumari-Sharma has acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a rare form of blood cancer.
Meena is living with her mum, Renu Dhunna, 61, in Oadby, while she fights the disease, this means she is separated from her beloved five-year-old twins, Mia and Krish, who are living with their father in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Meena has undergone bouts of chemotherapy at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
And since March last year, she has been searching for a stem cell donor who could save her life.
Meena, 41-years-old has mounted a social media campaign called #Match4Meena, and held a number of recruitment drives across Leicestershire and elsewhere in the country, but has yet to find a suitable match .
There is a lack of black, Asian and mixed-race people on the register of potential blood stem cell donors.
Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston is supporting her campaign to find a stem cell match.
He said: “The strength, courage and determination that Meena is showing in her pursuit of a match is incredibly inspiring.
“The odds are unfortunately stacked against Meena because of her ethnicity, and so we’re hoping to encourage as many people from all walks of life to join the register.”
Meena said: “I am very much still actively searching for a donor. It really is a quick and easy process to join, so I’d strongly encourage anyone to register in the hope that they can help save a life like mine.
“Blood cancer is something that can happen to anyone at any time, so the more people we have on the register the better we’re able to tackle it together.”
There will be a stem cell donor drive on Sunday, May 26, at the Summer Mela, being held at Leicester Racecourse, in Oadby, from 11am-7pm.
To register as a stem cell donor, visit the DKMS website www.dkms.org/uk/en
