Bradford businessman Mohammed Ishfaq hopes a dramatic video of him plunging 15,000 feet through the sky will encourage others to face their fears to raise cash for the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal.

SEE THE VIDEO OF THE SKYDIVE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGH8d8J6eQQ&feature=youtube

The 58-year-old owner of Ishico in Shipley took part in a parachute jump at Hibaldstow airfield, becoming the first person to stage a daredevil feat for our £1 million fundraising campaign to pioneer new cancer treatments in Bradford faster than ever before.

Mr Ishfaq, whose company sells energy-saving lights, is sharing a clip of his leap of faith in the hopes it will inspire other fundraisers to come forward and back the appeal.

He said: “I hope that by seeing it people will be encouraged to come up with their own ideas.

“I hope they look at it and think ‘I could do something too’.”

Mr Ishfaq, of Heaton, was initially due to take part in a parachute jump on Wednesday, but bad weather meant it was called off.

But he returned to the airfield on Thursday, where he boarded a small plane which flew 15,000 feet into the sky.

“It was very exciting. I was apprehensive as the plane was going up and getting higher and higher,” he said. “When the doors opened it was cold outside and I thought ‘oh my God’.

“But I was up there and knew what I had to do. I followed the instructions I was given and jumped out.

“There was quite a long freefall and I was travelling at around 120mph. I can see why some people panic! When the parachute opened it was a lot calmer, gliding to the ground. It was really exciting.”

Earlier this month, the T&A joined forces with the University, charity Yorkshire Cancer Research and principal supporter the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust to announce the start of the T&A Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal.

It aims to buy Bradford University's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics a new mass spectrometer, which will allow its scientists to study the role of proteins in the cancer ten times faster than they can at the moment. The machine could herald a major breakthrough in finding a more targeted way to treat the disease without the horrendous side effects of chemotherapy.

Mr Ishfaq has so far raised more than £400, but hopes to continue his fundraising.

To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/ mohammed-ishfaq.