An urgent appeal for donors has been launched to help save a "beloved" Kenilworth teacher.

Saurabhi Bhave, 46, is a much-loved wife to Ameya, mother to 15-year-old Atreya and dedicated teacher at St John's Primary School and Nursery in Kenilworth.

Earlier this year she had been feeling unusually tired, out of breath and had been struggling to shake off cold-like symptoms, when she collapsed in the school staff room.

Worried colleagues drove her home, and her GP sent her to hospital for tests including a bone marrow biopsy.

This revealed she has acute myeloid leukaemia, a potentially life-threatening blood cancer.

"It was a complete shock to my system: I thought I was just anaemic or something, and that they'd treat me and send me home and that I could start working again," says Saurabhi.

"Having to tell my son and husband was awful."

Saurabhi needs a stem cell transplant in order to have a second chance at life, but she has no matching donor in her family.

Her doctors have been searching for a matching donor from the stem cell donor register, but her Indian heritage means this will be more difficult.

Friends and family have been leading an urgent campaign with blood cancer charity DKMS UK to encourage people to join the stem cell donor register – a quick and simple act which involves some painless cheek swabs and a few health questions.

Now, the community at her school have organised a stem cell donor registration event in her name.

The event will be held on Saturday 21 November at St John's Primary School and Nursery in Kenilworth, where people can join the register.

Anyone aged 16-55 and in general good health can join the register with charity DKMS UK.

The event will run from 10am to 3pm.

Adam Lee, head teacher at St John's Primary School and Nursery says: "Saurabhi is the most incredible person.

"She has given so much to our school and community and the support for her has been extraordinary.

"Within an hour of sharing details of our 'Swab for Saurabhi' event, almost 50 volunteers had offered to help run it.

Staff, parents, governors and members of the wider community have all stepped forward too, and "we are incredibly grateful.

"Saurabhi is deeply loved by the children and families of St John's. If you are eligible, please come and join the stem cell donor register. Tell your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. One simple swab could give Saurabhi, or someone else desperately waiting for a match, a second chance at life."

For many patients with blood cancer like Saurabhi, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor could be their only opportunity for recovery.

However, only one in three patients will find a matching donor in their family.

Most patients will rely on finding a match from a complete stranger who has signed up to the stem cell donor register, but just seven per cent of the eligible population in the UK are signed up.

"I've received so much love and support from the school community. It's just been incredible," says Saurabhi.

"I just want to be able to get back to teaching, to dancing and being with my family.

"Please come along to the stem cell donor registration event at St John's Primary School and Nursery if you can.

"Because you never know, you may not be a match for me but you might end up saving a little child who also needs a transplant. You might end up saving someone who is not fortunate enough to advocate for themselves."

If you can't attend the event, want to find out more or order a free swab kit, visit the DKMS website.

Most people who join the register will never be called to donate, but if you are matched to a patient, you have the potential to save the life of someone like Saurabhi.

If you are a match, the procedure is often much easier than people think.

Today, nine out of ten stem cell donors donate through a simple, non-surgical procedure similar to donating blood platelets.

DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde says: "For Saurabhi and patients like her, a total stranger joining the register could give them their lives back.

"Joining the register only takes ten minutes of your time, but you could be the match that someone is waiting for. If you are matched to a patient and called up to donate, DKMS will be there to support you through the whole journey."