AFTER a year of runs, abseils, skydives, head shaves and 24-hour archery marathons, the £1 million Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal is looking to go from strength-to-strength in 2015.

A host of fundraising events raised thousands of pounds for the cause in 2014, as Bradford went purple for Crocus.

The Telegraph & Argus is working in partnership with the University of Bradford, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust to reach the target.

The cash will be used to buy a new piece of kit, called a proteomics mass spectrometer, for use by researchers at the university's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics.

Two of the year's biggest fundraisers were an abseil at the Jurys Inn hotel in May, which kicked off Crocus Week, and the Bradford City Runs event in October when 1,000 runners took the the streets raising more than £10,000.

In April, eight university students skydived from 15,000 feet. The team, comprising elected officers from the University of Bradford Union and the Union Athletics Club, made the jump at Hibaldstow airfield in Lincolnshire, raising more than £3,800.

Members of the Bradford Muslim Women's Forum were given a guided tour of a University cancer research unit in August after making a donation to the Crocus Cancer Appeal.

The Forum raised £1,000 at a fundraising dinner held at the Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham in May.

A group of archers from the University of Bradford hit their target in December by raising more than £600 for the Appeal with a 24-hour shooting marathon.

The head of development and alumni relations at the university, Davide Calogero, praised the last year of fundraising for the appeal.

He said: "Thousands of people across the city and beyond have pledged their support and raised money for the appeal.

"We’ve had sponsored bakes, runs, swims, dinner dances and head shaves, not to mention Bradford City runs in October which raised over £10,000.

"We’ve also just completed our annual alumni telephone fundraising campaign, in which our community of graduates pledged over £100,000 for the appeal which will be redeemed over the next five years.

"The support has been overwhelming and I’d like to thank everyone who has donated to the appeal so far."

Telegraph & Argus editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "I’m delighted that people are backing this campaign. It’s amazing when you look back over the last year just how many people have got behind the Crocus Cancer Appeal and thrown themselves, quite literally at times, into fundraising efforts.

"It’s said very often, but cancer impacts on everyone’s life and anything that can help with the fight against it, such as the advanced work at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, should be supported."

To make a donation to the Crocus Appeal, text the word CROCUS to 70800 to make a one-off donation of £5, make a cheque payable to T&A Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal, or make a cash donation to Telegraph & Argus Newspaper, Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 1JR or University of Bradford, Richmond Building reception, BD7 1DP. Lloyds banks in the Bradford area will also accept donations over the counter.