A Bradford University chief with a head for heights has tackled the Atlas Mountains for the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal.

Mark Garrett, director of marketing, recruitment and development at the University, climbed the highest peak in North Africa to raise money for our £1 million cancer-fighting campaign.He flew out to Marrakech on December 27 to take part in a six-day trek across three mountains to reach Toubkal’s 4,200ft summit, where he posed for a picture in his purple Crocus Appeal T-shirt.

“It was a bit tough, but I had the motivation of raising money for the Crocus Appeal,” said Mark, who has so far raised about £700.

“The study of cancer therapeutics is important and the work the team does is critical. We need to do everything we can to support them.”

The T&A has joined forces with the University, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust for our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date – to buy the University’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) a new mass spectrometer.

The high-tech equipment will allow its researchers to study the role of protein in cancer ten times faster than ever before, which could hold the key to developing new, less toxic cancer treatments.

Mark said he hoped his fundraising exploits would inspire others to set their own challenge to help us hit our £1 million target.

“It is the first time I’ve tried anything like this. I have done hill climbs in Britain, but nothing like 4,200ft.

“The big challenge was altitude sickness, but fortunately I wasn’t really affected. One or two others in our group were.

“It was a brilliant experience and now I’m thinking about other challenges, like climbing mountains in the Himalayas.

“I’ve had great support from my colleagues, who have sponsored me, and I hope they and others will come up with their own fundraising ideas.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mark can visit justgiving.com/MarkGarratt4865.