Timur Ülker

“GZSZ” star donates bone marrow for child

Timur Ülker donated bone marrow for a child with cancer in the UK.(Bild: RTL / privat)

"GZSZ" star and father of two Timur Ülker gives a child in the UK a chance at a new life with his bone marrow donation. And is now encouraging others to register with the German stem cell donation organization DKMS.

For the 34-year-old actor, it is a matter close to his heart - together with the "GZSZ" team from UFA Serial Drama and RTL, he has been drawing attention to the work of the DKMS for years.

Support from the "GZSZ" team
In 2019, he registered as a potential lifesaver at a registration campaign at Filmpark Babelsberg. Almost five years later, Ülker can now give a child from the UK the chance of a new life with his donation. 

The "GZSZ" star Timur Ülker registered as a bone marrow donor five years ago. Now he has received the call that he is a potential donor.(Bild: RTL / Anna Riedel)

"I got the call that I was a potential donor and it was immediately clear to me that I wanted to and would help," explained Ülker. Preliminary examinations and a comprehensive medical check-up followed. The "GZSZ" team supported him as much as possible. "One colleague said, for example: 'People's lives come first'." In addition, the filming schedules for "GZSZ" were "even adjusted especially for me".

"This donation means a lot to me"
"I would do it again at any time," says Ülker after his bone marrow donation, which took place in Dresden some time ago. "This donation means a lot to me. If I hopefully live to be at least 70 or 80 years old, I can say: I saved a human life, or at least tried to and did everything I could to do so."

The actor is now also encouraging others to register and emphasizes that it doesn't take much effort to save a life. The procedure only took around half an hour: "It feels like sore muscles, like a bruise," says Ülker, summarizing his impressions after the operation. "But I'm happy that it's done and now I just hope with all my heart that the transplant is successful and that the recipient can then lead a new life, and I wish them all the best."

Child gets a chance at a new life
As a father of two, he was moved to tears by the information he received after his donation. "DKMS called me and I found out that my bone marrow was destined for a child in England. I hope everything will be okay."

His appeal is therefore: "I can only recommend it to you, join in. Enjoy life, laugh if you want to laugh, celebrate if you want to celebrate and if you can help, then help. Each and every one counts."