People are being offered a unique chance to feature in a famous detective series as part of the Telegraph & Argus Crocus Cancer Appeal.

On Monday, the right to have a character named after you in the next Shetland detective book will be auctioned at the University of Bradford. The murder mystery novels, written by acclaimed crime author Ann Reeves, have been turned into a successful BBC drama staring Douglas Henshall as Detective Jimmy Perez.

They are centred on the detective’s attempts to solve several murders in the isolated island community of Shetland and one lucky bidder will appear in the next book, which is due out in the autumn.

The lot is one of several up for grabs at the event to support the £1 million appeal being run by the T&A, the University, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Sovereign Healthcare Charitable Trust.

The auction will be held as part of an event called ‘Cluedo: detecting identity and motivation at work’ and all proceeds will go towards buying a proteomics mass spectrometer, which University scientists at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics can use to aid their research into cancer treatments.

Other items in the auction include copies of the Shetland books signed by Ann Cleeves, a cricket bat signed by Alastair Cook, a round of golf for four people at the Marriott Hotel, Bradford and a signed copy of the biography of Suggs from the band Madness. The event is organised by the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), which is run by the University’s School of Management.

Associate KTN director Owen Whitehouse said: “This is a great opportunity to raise money for the appeal and take home some fantastic auction items.

For literary fans, this is a unique opportunity to have a character named after you and I hope people will dig deep and raise lots for the appeal.”

The evening will feature talks on how we build identities in the workplace and how that is tied in with the idea of motivation and success in life and business.

The event will be in the Arthur Francis Lecture Theatre at Bradford University School of Management. Registration starts at 5.30pm and the event starts at 6.05pm. For more information and to book a place, contact ktnetwork@bradford.ac.uk.

Crocus Week runs from May 10 to 18. To get involved, contact Victoria Collins at v.collins@bradford.ac.uk or call (01274) 233165.