WA unis help cancer mum Emily Sun who needs stem cell donor CANCER FIGHT: Emily Sun, who needs a stem cell donor to survive, with son Luke. HOPEFUL: Emily Sun, who needs a stem cell donor, and son Luke, husband Giulian Source: PerthNow WEST Australia's universities are rallying behind a Perth mum to help her find a life-saving stem cell donor. University of WA student Francis McTernan will be setting up an on-campus stall near The Refectory café, adjacent to the Oak Lawn and overlooking Matilda Bay, tomorrow, which will allow students to register as donors - and help save Emily Sun's life. Earlier this month, The Sunday Times revealed that Ms Sun was battling cancer for the second time in three years - and needed a stem cell donor to give her "my final chance." But the 36-year-old mother's chances of finding a suitable match are slimmer because she was born in Hong Kong, and only 10 per cent of donors worldwide are of Asian descent. Ms McTernan, a friend of Ms Sun, said she had been touched by her call for help - and wanted to provide any assistance she could. "I will be passing out information on how to become a stem cell donor at a table near The Refectory this Thursday, March 28, and Thursday, April 11," she said. I will have brochures, business cards, and the website running for people to grasp exactly what is involved. The UWA Student Guild is running a stall on the 30th of April where anyone who is keen can be tested and registered as a donor. There will be two phlebotomists (nurses who are qualified to take blood) there to do the testing, so students can do everything here on campus. Murdoch University, where Ms Sun recently studied, has also made a point of sharing her story with students. Last week, Ms Sun's story made front page news in Canada when her call for help was published in the Toronto Star. Chinese media have also reported on her search for a match. The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry says it has noticed an increase in the number of people from Asian backgrounds enquiring about becoming a donor, as well as those who wanted to help Ms Sun. The registry's acting national executive officer Anthony Montague said 175,000 Australians were registered as donors, after joining with a simple blood test, but only one in 1000 each year are actually called upon to save someone's life by donating bone marrow or stem cells. He said anyone with a non-Caucasian background was needed, but donors from an Aboriginal Australian or mixed ethnic background were in short supply. "It doesn't matter where the donor is worldwide - we have funding to go and get that donor," he said. If the best donor in Emily's case is in Taiwan, Hong Kong or China, we will go and get it. Or it could be in Perth. Born in Hong Kong, Ms Sun grew up in Perth, working as a teacher before being diagnosed with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2010. She was in remission for almost eight months before being told the cancer had returned earlier this month. In Australia, if you are between 18 and 45, in good health and prepared to donate for anyone in the world, call the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 to join the registry by having a simple blood test. yasmine.phillips@news.com.au Follow Yasmine Phillips on Twitter: @Phillips Yasmine