AN Australian is appealing to the Jewish community in Britain to help find a bone marrow donor for his mother.

Mr Yuri Frenklah is searching for a match after his mother, Olga, was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last year.

Relatives and friends have come forward to be tested, with no success.

And, despite an appeal to Australian Jews, no suitable donor has been found.

As Mrs Frenklah's best chance lies with the Jewish community, specifically Jews of Russian decent.

Mr Frenklah is appealing to the UK community to sign up to the bone marrow register.

More than 300,000 Jewish donors are registered worldwide but the figure needs to be closer to half a million to give people like Mrs Frenklah a real chance of finding a match.

The chance of finding a compatible Jewish donor is one in 50,000 while there is only a one in 100,000 chance of a non-Jew being a compatible donor.

Anyone wishing to join the donor list must be between 18 and 40 years old and in good health.

For more information about the appeal, email olga1@dodo.com.au or telephone The Anthony Nolan Trust on 09018 822234.