The daughter of a man with leukaemia from Tadley, is calling for more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors, after being told that her dad desperately needs a stem cell transplant from a stranger if he is to be cured of his cancer.

Due to the family’s mixed British Chinese heritage they face difficulty finding a donor, as only 20 per cent of transplant recipients from mixed ethnicity backgrounds receive the best possible match.

Mark’s daughter, Lauren, 23, said: “My dad, Mark Kan, is 57 years old and has recently relapsed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

“In November 2016, after nine months of intensive chemotherapy treatment he was given the all clear and a second chance at life. Since then, he has had successful check-ups whilst being in remission.”

But the Kan family received the devastating news that his cancer had returned in June.

Mark will now need a stem cell transplant for the best chance of surviving.

“We are all suffering from the shock of his relapse including his consultants who did not foresee this happening so far into remission.

“My dad is the kindest, most loving and incredible man I know. He loves his family, friends and two newly adopted puppies from Greece.

“The thought of not having him to love and hold causes me, my younger brother, my mum and his parent’s pain beyond imagination,” Lauren said.

Anthony Nolan charity is searching their register for a stranger who could give her dad another chance at life.

Rebecca Pritchard, who leads the Register Development team at Anthony Nolan said: “We are doing everything we can to support Mark’s search for a matching donor, during this difficult time.”

Visit www.anthonynolan.org/MatchForMark and there is a chance for you to register at DKMS as a potential blood stem cell donor.