A HARDY group of archers from the University of Bradford have hit their target by raising more than £600 for the Telegraph & Argus Crocus Cancer Appeal with a 24-hour shooting marathon.

More than 50 people joined in the fun at some stage between 11am on Monday and 11am yesterday, with a core team from the University's archery club braving wintry night-time conditions to shoot throughout the entire endurance challenge.

President of the club, Freya Leask, 21, who is studying a masters in chemistry at Bradford, described the mammoth fundraising task as a "real team effort."

"It went really well, and we had great support from the other University sports clubs," she said.

"During the night, it got very cold and drizzly, but we made sure we came prepared.

"We shot through the rain and the fog, and we were just determined to keep going.

"We're tired now, but it was all worth it for a good cause.

"The Crocus Appeal is something that the students of the University of Bradford have really got behind, and we are confident we can reach the £1 million target this year."

The club were raising money for the £1 million Crocus Appeal - a joint fundraiser by the T&A, the University, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust - which aims to buy a new machine for researchers at the University's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics to help the city's ground-breaking work in fighting the disease.

The challenge coincided with the University's 'Give it a Go' inclusive sports day, which was organised by disability cycling club, Cycling 4 All, to encourage people to try their hand at games such as wheelchair bulldog and blind football.

Students from across the University's sports teams led the wide range of fully-inclusive activities, which also included touch tennis, sitting volleyball and sitting badminton, and self-defence classes.

Adam Tasker, project coordinator at Cycling 4 All, said: "In the past, there has been poor sports provision for disabled students at Bradford, but over the last couple of years the University has led the way, ensuring that all sports are accessible as they can be."

For more information on the Crocus Appeal, visit telegraphandargus.co.uk/crocus.

MORE CROCUS CANCER APPEAL HEADLINES