Arsenal footballer Lukas Podolski is the latest celebrity backing the campaign to find a bone marrow donor for Harrow grandmother Sharon Berger.

The German international forward was a patron of a drive in Finchley, the first run by the recently launched Delete Blood Cancer UK.

“As patron I fully support Delete Blood Cancer UK in this donor recruitment event for this lovely grandmother,” the player explained.

He added: “Registering as a potential stem cell donor is quick and easy and could save the life of Sharon or other patients in need.”

The charity takes registrations from people up to 55, whereas UK charity Antony Nolan takes only samples from those up to 30.

In addition to the donor drive, a “swab squad’ took registrations in Kosher Kingdom in Golders Green. Shoppers were given kits before Passover to do a “Seder swab”.

Mrs Berger’s son Jonni said: “We had an amazing response, with almost 550 kits collected in just seven days.
“I am grateful to all who helped and encouraged their friends, family and colleagues to do a mitzvah.”

Mrs Berger is undergoing further chemotherapy for a blood disorder as her original course of treatment was not as successful as hoped. After this round of chemotherapy, she will be in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant.