Hunt For Donor Match For Popular South Wimbledon Fish Bar Owner
Adams Fish and Chip shop proprietor needs a stem cell transplant
Zac Zacharia in Adams Fish and Chip shop
The hunt is on to find a stem cell transplant match for Zac Zacharia, the popular owner of Adams Fish and Chip shop in South Wimbledon.
Zac, aged 63, was diagnosed with leukaemia last month and could have just months to live without a stem cell transplant.
But finding a match has been proving difficult because of his Greek Cypriot heritage. A match is far more likely from someone of the same ethnicity.
Zac was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after after suffering a series of mini strokes. Doctors at St George’s Hospital said a stem cell donor is his last hope as chemotherapy is only likely to delay the spread.
He said: "It’s one of those things that you think will never happen to you, but it could be you, or your brother or sister, needed 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."
Zac and wife Lula are well known in the local community, and have run the highly regarded fish and chip shop in Kingston Road (pictured below) for many years. The shop is now closed due to Zac's illness.
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..
"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."
You need to be aged 16-30 to register as a donor because research shows younger donors increase a patient’s chances of surviving.
You can find out more on this link: Anthony Nolan stem cell register .
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September 24, 2021