A BRADFORD City fan in Australia aims to raise £1 million for the city's burns research unit to remember the 56 fans who lost their lives at the Valley Parade fire disaster 30 years ago.

David Bowers, 43, shot to social media fame in 2013 after setting up a Facebook campaign to convince his wife to let him fly across the world to watch the Bantams in the Capital One Cup final against Swansea.

He targeted one million likes on that occasion and ended up with 1.8m to book his place back to the UK.

Now, he hopes to recreate that level of interest by swapping likes for cash with the aim of raising £1m by May 11, the 30th anniversary of the Bradford City Fire.

The blaze, on May 11, 1985, claimed a total of 56 victims, 54 Bradford City fans and two supporters of their opponents that day, Lincoln City.

Hundreds of other fans suffered severe burns as the blaze ripped through the wooden stand.

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Mr Bowers wants to donate all funds raised from the appeal to the University of Bradford's Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) which was set up in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Speaking on his fundraising page, Mr Bowers, who was born in Ravenscliffe but moved to Australia more than 20 years ago and now lives in Melbourne, said: "I want to emulate that response but this time instead of likes I require donations for PSBRU.

"The 56 lives taken that day will never be forgotten, but we can ensure that with the work of PSBRU, there will be triumph through tragedy

"Please dig deep, and think about your own lives and people around you, you never know one day you may need a helping hand, so for the a price of a coffee, or downloaded song or app, you could be helping further the research at PSBRU."

His father, Derek Bowers, who lives in Sutton-in-Craven, said: "He would have been at the game in 1985 if he wasn't doing his Duke of Edinburgh Award.

"He knows so many people who were there the day of the fire.

"He is a massive fan of the club. I send him over some memorabilia from the club.

"He keeps up with all of their games in Australia.

"He is very proud to be from Yorkshire. He is coming over here in July.

"I'm so proud of David for doing this. He does anything he can for anybody else."

Ajay L Mahajan, consultant plastic surgeon and director of research at PSBRU, said: "People like David Bowers are very passionate about the cause and are making all the difference to our campaign.

"Funds that are raised through this are vital for the ongoing activities in our unit.

"On behalf of the PSBRU, I would like to thank David and his friends for taking up this initiative and I share his enthusiasm in making this fundraising campaign a success.”

Go to, justgiving.com/millionlikesdave/ or via paypal at onemillion-one@hotmail.com to make a donation.