Bradford's sporting heroes past and present will be attending a star-studded dinner to raise money for the Lord Mayor of Bradford's Appeal.

Many of the district's sporting greats will join the Lord Mayor, Councillor Robin Owens, at a Sporting Legends dinner next month.

The event will raise money for Bradford Ear Trust's Listening for Life initiative, which is also being backed by the Telegraph & Argus, and Bradford Cancer Support's Daisy Appeal.

Guests attending the dinner include Bradford City manager Stuart McCall, Bradford Bulls head coach Steve McNamara, professional rugby union star Dan Scarborough, of Bingley, who plays for Saracens and Great Britain, as well as former Bradford City favourites John Hendrie and Paul Jewell, and cyclist Yvonne McGregor, winner of a bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

In 2006, a similar dinner raised £9,000 for the Lord Mayor's appeal.

The Lord Mayor, Coun Owens, said: "This is a unique evening and a wonderful chance to celebrate the sporting highs and perhaps even discuss some of the lows of our city's sporting history.

"It is not a sportsman's dinner, ladies are very welcome and this will be an excellent event at which to entertain corporate clients."

Each of the sports stars has donated an item of memorabilia for a fundraising auction, including tea in the House of Lords with former world and Olympic champion Lord Sebastian Coe.

Coun Owens said the stars would mingle with guests before and after the meal and take questions from them in a special interview with sports commentator John Helm.

The total raised for this year's appeal is now approaching the £40,000 mark. Since 2000 the Lord Mayor's appeal has helped Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People Disabilities, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the Burns Research Unit, Manorlands Hospice, the Arthritis Research Campaign, Nell Bank Centre, the Bradford Outward Bound Association, Candlelighters, Macmillan Nurses, the Prince's Trust Brain Wave Appeal and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The sporting legends dinner takes place on Thursday, February 21, at the Banqueting Suite at Bradford City's Valley Parade ground at 7pm.

Tickets start at £28 and are available from Alexis Jenner at the Lord Mayor's Appeal Office on (01274) 434965.

e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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