A Salford man with a life-threatening bone marrow disease has expressed his gratitude for a transplant match by organising the largest bone marrow donor drive among Manchester’s strictly Orthodox community.

The father of four, who wishes to remain anonymous, was found a match from New York in just four weeks through the UK’s Anthony Nolan Trust. He is due to have his stem-cell transplant this month. “It’s like it was sent from heaven,” he said. “Anthony Nolan have been amazing and because Jewish people often find it hard to find a genetic match, I decided to help organise this drive with the charity.”

The 58-year-old has worked with the biggest Charedi shuls in Salford and Prestwich, with 20 community volunteers involved in the two-night drive.

At least 400 people turned up at the first, held on Tuesday, with 300 registering as potential donors.