Less than three weeks into the appeal, there has been a huge response to help seven-year-old leukemia victim Ayesha.

A massive £45,000 has been raised by Ayesha's family and friends, as well as kind-hearted readers, towards the cost of processing potential bone-marrow donors.

And today Glasgow comedians Sanjeev and Hardeep Singh Kohli have joined the campaign, urging as many people as possible to get tested and join the register.

The big-hearted siblings pleaded for members of Glasgow's mixed-race communities to join the bone marrow register, as Ayesha's rare form of the condition means she is likely to need a transplant.

Sanjeev, best known for his role as Navid in hit comedy Still Game, said: "I've known Ayesha's family for years and want to do anything I can to help.

"Glasgow's ethnic community need to come together and sign the register.

"Ayesha's story is a wake-up call for all of us.

"She is an amazing wee girl and she needs our help, so I would urge everyone to get tested and sign up to the bone marrow donor register."

His brother, Hardeep, 43, said: "We only need one donor for Ayesha, but we're going to have go through hundreds to find that match.

"That's why as many people from ethnic backgrounds as possible need to step up and donate.

"After all, you could save someone's life."

Every day people are signing up to the bone marrow register after reading the Evening Times' story about Ayesha from Newton Mearns.

We reported how little Ayesha has a rare form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, called Philadelphia Positive.

She has been on chemotherapy for almost a year at Yorkhill Hospital For Sick Children, but is expected to need a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

However, none of her family, including her four-year-old brother Saif, is a match.

Her dad, Nadeem, 50, and mum, Noreen, 47 launched their appeal through the Evening Times almost three weeks ago.

Nadeem, who is a cancer specialist in Glasgow, specifically appealed for members of Glasgow's mixed race and ethnic communities to help.

Sadly, while 90% of Northern European patients will find a match, only 40% of patents from an ethnic background will.

Nadeem said: "Ayesha's best chance of a match is from someone with a similar ethnic background, but we also know that people from these backgrounds are under-represented on the Anthony Nolan register.

"We want anyone from an ethnic minority background to come forward and join the register, because they could be the match for someone like Ayesha and help save their life.

"We have been so touched by the generosity of people in Glasgow, Britain, and across the world. There has been a tremendous response to Ayesha's appeal.

"But we still need to get as many people as possible to get tested."

Dad-of-two, Hardeep, added: "Ayesha is the most important person in all of this right now.

"But we may even find a match for someone else.

"We have to create a new database of donors from ethnic minorities."

Football pundit Gary Lineker and Apprentice boss, Lord Alan Sugar are among celebs who are backing the appeal.

Ayesha's school friends have also pledged their support

Ayesha's family also wants to raise £150,000 towards the cost of processing potential donors. It costs £100 for each person who volunteers for a test.

Their first major fundraising event will be a Question of Sport evening on May 3 at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow city centre.

Children's Aid, a local Glasgow charity, has helped organise the event, which will be hosted by Sky Sports presenters Jim White and Alan McInally.

Nadeem said: "We're holding a series of fundraisers and asking family, friends and the public to donate."

rebecca.gray@ heraldandtimes.co.uk

YOU can volunteer to be a donot at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Ayesha appeal

Potential donors must be aged 18-40 and the charity especially needs young men to sign up.

After applying online, suitable, potential donors are sent a 'spit test' sample to return a saliva sample.

Then, unless there are any problems, they are not contacted unless they are a match for somebody.

To register, see the website www.anthonynolan.org or call 0303 3033000.

To book tickets for the Question of Sport evening, contact childrensaid@btinternet.com