A priest has joined the ten million-to- one hunt for a suitable bone marrow donor for a Bradford man with a rare genetic mix.

Kim Bloomfield, 46, was born to an Estonian mother and Scottish father and could require a donor from a similar background in his battle against chronic myeloid leukaemia.

His chances of finding a donor with a perfect match are rated at one in ten million, but his rare Celtic and Eastern European background has increased the difficulty yet further.

The Reverend Sean Molloy, of St Clare's Church, Moorside Road, Fagley, who has a Polish father and an Irish mother, was among those who joined the national donor register at an appeal for Mr Bloomfield, held by the Anthony Nolan Trust.

"When I saw Kim's plea for donors last week in the Telegraph & Argus, I soon realised that very few people will have Celtic and Eastern European connections. So on a practical level, registering at least gives Kim some hope," said Father Molloy, 38.

"At the end of the day, you should practice what you preach. I am constantly talking about helping other people and therefore it's something I should be able to do myself."

Mr Bloomfield, a former pub DJ who lives in Manchester Road, was diagnosed with leukaemia last October. He said: "I am very grateful to Father Molloy and if the chances of a suitable donor are according to ethnicity, then there may be a chance of a match. We will just have to wait and see."

The donor session was held at the Polish Parish Club in Bradford. People with Asian, Estonian and Polish backgrounds attended to give blood samples and join the Anthony Nolan register.

Michael Small, 23, a bank clerk, registered with his girlfriend, Stacey Dunne, 20, a sales administrator.

The couple, of Tong, have no Eastern European connections, but said they felt compelled to become potential donors.

Mr Small's grandfather died from cancer and Miss Dunne's sister-in-law has just been cleared of the disease.

Mr Small said: "You might never even be called up to become a donor but you remain a member of the Anthony Nolan Trust.

"Everyone deserves a chance in life and a couple of seconds' minor pain could save someone else's life."

Megan Godden, donor officer for the Anthony Nolan Trust, said she was delighted with the wave of young men from different ethnic backgrounds who came to register.

She said: "This not only gives Kim hope but many other people throughout the country who require a donor, too."