A Sikh businessman has urged his community and other ethnic minorities to donate blood and organs in a bid to save the life of a man suffering from leukaemia.

Restaurant owner Parvinder Singh Lalli, 43, has a poster in his vegetarian restaurant, Singhs, in Milton Road, Gravesend, appealing to help a father in need of a stem cell transplant after he was diagnosed with blood cancer.

Raj Singh Bhuller, 51, from Slough, was told on Christmas Eve that he needs the operation to survive.

He has been given a 20% chance of survival and so far no suitable matches have been found on the register for a bone marrow transplant.

It is estimated there is only a 40% chance for an Asian to find a donor, prompting the family to raise awareness.

On Sunday, leaders at Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Gravesend, are asking people to join the register in a bid to help Mr Bhuller overcome his illness.

Mr Lalli said there was an issue among ethnic minorities giving blood.

He said: “In Gravesend we have had about six appeals where people have asked for help with blood and organ donations.

“We do believe in helping each other but there aren’t enough of us that are doing so. It is an issue and I think it is down to awareness.

“There is a need to do it. People from the Sikh or Punjabi communities often feel the best chance of a match is from someone in the community.”

The posters were put up by Darnley Road resident Pam Rana, 42, who said she was touched by Mr Bhuller’s story when she read about him on Facebook.

She said: “My cousin told me about an appeal in Canada where they were able to find a match so when I heard about Raj I knew I wanted to help.

“I was just touched by his story and getting more people to join the register is something we should be doing.

“In Gravesend, we have a huge Asian community so I thought we are in a good place to help.

“I think people are maybe scared by donating blood so it’s definitely an issue we need to look at.”

Mr Bhuller’s sister Mukhjinder Singh added: “The fact the Gravesend community has allowed us to come and use the Gurdwara is great for us."

The appeal takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at the Gravesend Gurdwara, off Saddington Street, from 10am until 2pm.

To help, visit www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk