BRADFORD City's spirited FA Cup run could help focus more national attention on the 30th anniversary of the Valley Parade disaster.
The FA has now decided to mark the commemoration with an invitation to a delegation from Bradford and Lincoln to attend the Royal Box at Wembley at the semi-finals, despite the Bantams' absence from the pitch.
The semi-finals will be held ahead of the anniversary, when clubs nationally are being encouraged to observe a minutes' silence out of respect for those who died in the blaze.
It is hoped this year to raise £300,000 to help support the work of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) at the University of Bradford.
The FA's involvement with the commemorations will mean chairman Greg Dyke attending Valley Parade on April 25 and the organisation also being represented at the annual Memorial Service to be held in Bradford’s Centenary Square on May 11. Flags will be flown at half-mast on the same day at St George’s Park, the FA’s national training ground.
Ajay Mahajan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of PSBRU, said: "The PSBRU is very grateful to the Bradford city fans and their supporters nationally for their relentless efforts in raising funds for our unit.
"With their ongoing support, we have come a long way since we started, following the Bradford fire.
"Thanks to their support, we have been able to carry out very valuable research work in our unit that strives to improve patient care for the future. The unit runs on funds that are raised from time to time and if the current target is achieved, the unit’s future will be secured for a few more years to come."
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