My name’s Nidahl, I’m 24, and my world turned upside down in January when my amazing mum Zeinab was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). She’s having her second round of chemo at the moment and as soon as she’s strong enough, she’ll need a stem cell transplant to survive. 

But my mum is Eritrean and I was so shocked to discover that this might make it harder for her to find a matching stem cell donor. Apparently if you’re from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, you’re more likely to have a rare tissue type than someone from a white northern European background, so you’re less likely to find a fully matched donor on the UK stem cell register. 

That’s why I’m urgently appealing for more people with Black, African and Caribbean heritage to sign up to the register. It might seem small but to me it’s everything, because it’s the chance of a lifetime with my mum. And even if you’re not my mum’s match, you could save someone else’s life – so please please sign up today.