Chip shop owner is in need of stem cell donor to save his life

The gregarious owner of a long-standing South Wimbledon fish and chip shop is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant as he has blood cancer.

Zach Zacharia, who runs Adams  Fish & Chips in Kingston Road, is urging people with a Greek or Cypriot heritage to join stem cell registers so others like him can get one in the future – as there is a shortage.

Mr Zacharia needs a life-saving stem cell transplant to treat his acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Mr Zacharia and his family are working with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan to raise awareness of the need for more Greek Cypriot stem cell donors during Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr Zacharia, who enjoys spending his free time at the gym and helping his local community, was diagnosed with ALL in August.

He has been supported by his family, including his wife Lula son Christopher, 31, and sister-in-law Vasoulla.

Upon diagnosis, Mr Zacharia was told by his medical team that although chemotherapy could help halt the spread of cancer, his only hope of a cure was through a stem cell transplant.

Doctors need to give him new stem cells through his bloodstream which will grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to cure his ALL.

Anthony Nolan is now searching the worldwide network of stem cell registers for a person who is a close genetic match to Mr Zacharia, and who is willing to donate their stem cells to save his life.

However, the search is made more difficult due to his Greek Cypriot heritage, as he will most likely need a matching donor with a similar background.

Mr Zacharia, currently being treated at St George’s hospital, Tooting, said: ‘I was brought into hospital last week, after three mini strokes.

“No-one was expecting the test results to reveal the cause of the illness as leukaemia, but when they did, I was immediately transferred over to the cancer unit to begin urgent chemotherapy.

“The doctors have said that a stem cell transplant will be needed in the next three to four months, but there’s not currently a donor for me on the register.

“My wife, Lula, was on the register, as blood cancer affected a young family member of ours. And I know it’s one of those things that you think will never happen to you, but it could be you, or your brother or sister, who needs that donor match.

“If you’re deliberating over whether to join the stem cell register, I will say this – do it, because you can save someone’s life. And it will make you feel good.”

Rebecca Pritchard, director of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: “Last month, Zac was manning his popular fish and chip bar in South Wimbledon, completely unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.

“Last week, he joined the five people a day who start their search for an unrelated stem cell donor.

“Blood cancer is not something you tend to think about until it touches close to home, but it can hit anyone, and when a stem cell transplant is needed, a potential cure can be found in a matching donor.

“We need to keep building our register with more young donors so that more families can be given hope.

“One day you could be matched to a patient in need of a life-saving stem cell transplant.

“If you’re over 31 and want to help, please consider funding a life-saver for someone like Zac.

It cost £40 to recruit a new donor on to the register, so your help is invaluable in giving patients more chance of finding the best possible match.”

People aged 16-30 can join the Anthony Nolan register online at anthonynolan.org/zac if they are in good general health.

Anthony Nolan also needs more men aged 16–30 to sign up as they are underrepresented on the register.

Young men currently account for only 18 per cent of the charity’s register, but they make up an astonishing 55 per cent of all people asked to donate

Find out more about Anthony Nolan at www.anthonynolan.org

 

Picture caption: Zach Zacharia outside his shop, Adams Fish & Chips