FUNDRAISERS who sign-up for the Bradford City Runs in aid of the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal can have a free sports massage as a thank you for supporting the cause.

Runners backing our appeal will also receive goody bags and can unwind at The Turls Green bar in Centenary Square where the runs start and finish.

The £1 million Crocus Appeal - a joint fundraiser by the T&A, The University of Bradford, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust - is the official charity partner for this year's City Runs, on Sunday, October 26.

The appeal aims to raise enough money to buy a new machine for use by researchers at the university's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics to help the city's ground-breaking work to fight the disease.

The massages will be given by students studying on the university's physiotherapist courses who will upstairs at The Turls Green bar, Centenary Square, from 10am on race day.

There are four runs to choose from - a one-mile family run, 5k, 10k and a half-marathon. The event has been organised by Bradford Council and Bradford Athletics Network.

All routes start and finish in City Park and all roads will be closed to traffic, offering runners and spectators a unique city centre event.

More than 400 runners took part in last year's City Runs and this year organisers hope to attract 1,000 entrants - and we want 200 of them to run in aid of the Crocus Appeal.

SIGN UP FOR A CITY RUNS CHALLENGE

Kate Butterfield, clinical lead physiotherapist at the university, said: "It gives our students an opportunity to work in the field and think on their feet. They can use the skills they have learned on real people.

"When we have done it in the past, we have had a queue a mile long. It has proved popular.

"We will do massages on a first-come-first-served basis.

"We will generally have people wanting massages who will suffer soreness, fatigue and tightness of their muscles. If anybody is injured, we will be able to give them advice and re-direct them."

Meanwhile, The Turls Green will also offer the whole of upstairs for Crocus runners only and a space will be used for Crocus runners to gather and prepare before the race, and meet for the first hour after the race to receive a complimentary tea and coffee.

Becky Teale, The Turls Green pub manager, said: "We are overjoyed to be able to support this fantastic event which will raise money for Crocus, a cause that is close to our hearts.

"We take our community responsibility very seriously and strive to give back whatever we can to a community that supports us."

The massages will be free but runners who have them will be encouraged to make a donation to the Crocus Appeal.