A Bradford athlete is throwing his weight behind the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal by appealing to the community to recycle cans.

Zaf Shah has organised for an Alcan aluminium can bank to be placed in the car park of the Mumtaz Restaurant, Great Horton Road, so cans dropped off there can be recycled in aid of the appeal.

The 10,000m runner, who had hoped to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester for Pakistan, said he wanted to help out because "cancer touches everybody at some stage in their lives."

His first major effort has been to organise the placing of the can bank, one of several now in the Bradford district dedicated to collecting aluminium drinks cans in aid of cancer research in the city.

Alcan take the cans for recycling and for every kilogramme collected, 45p goes towards the appeal. Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care will double that as part of their pledge to match every pound raised in the community, up to £100,000.

Zaf said he was keen to increase awareness of the appeal in all communities in Bradford.

Zaf's other fundraising includes getting collection boxes selling badges placed in various businesses. Following the Commonwealth Games, he is planning to dedicate more time to the appeal and organise several events.

"Hopefully we can get a lot more people involved," he said.

The Bradford Can...Appeal is aiming to raise £1million for cancer research in Bradford. Once that target is reached it will unlock another £5million from Cancer Research UK.

Other locations of Alcan can banks for the Bradford Can...Appeal are:

l Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital

lBradford University

lAsda stores at Rooley Lane, Bradford, and Manor Lane, Shipley.

lCommunity recycling scheme Curb at the Scotchman Road side of Listers Mill, Bradford, open from 9am until 5pm between Monday and Friday.

Alcan mobile collection sites are:

l Kwik Save, Great Horton Road, Bradford, between 10 am and noon on Mondays.

lSainsburys, Cavendish Street, Keighley, between 11am and 3pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

lMorrisons, Idle, between 1pm and 3pm on Fridays.

lHomebase, Yeadon, between 10am and 2pm on Saturdays.

lHome pick ups can be arranged by calling 0113 2450602 and businesses or schools who want to help should also call that number.

lCans can also be dropped off from Monday to Saturday at Unit 9, The Ayreside Centre., Whitehall Road, Leeds, between 10am and 5pm.

People should say they want their cans to go to the Bradford Can...Appeal if they drop them off at the Alcan mobile collection sites.