The new Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb, has chosen two local charities to benefit from his year-long appeal.

He was sworn in at a ceremony at City Hall yesterday and became the city's third Asian Lord Mayor.

Coun Rangzeb (Lab, Manningham) has selected Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities and the Born in Bradford project, schemes close to his heart.

He said: "Both of these charities do great things to help people in the Bradford district now and in the future.

"Bradford Sport and Recreations Association for People with Disabilities was set up 21 years ago and is now the number one provider of sport and leisure activities for disabled people in Bradford .

"The work the BSRAPD carries out is amazing and the hoard of medals the athletes returned with from last year's Special Olympic Games in Glasgow is testimony to that work. They won 32 gold, 12 silver and 23 bronze."

The Born in Bradford project is a pioneering new scheme to track the lives of 10,000 babies born in the city over the next three years, from pregnancy, through childhood until they become adults.

Coun Rangzeb said: "The Born in Bradford study will cost £3 million and has already attracted £500,000 of funding from the Department of Health and the EU.

"I would like to urge everybody in the city to support Born in Bradford and help us raise funds which will enable this research to take place and provide a lasting legacy for the health of the people of Bradford."

The new lord mayor was first elected to the Council in 1988 and has represented the Toller, City and Mann-ingham wards. Two years ago he was deputy lord mayor. His wife, Zaheda Parveen Rangzeb, is Lady Mayoress.

During his inauguration speech he dedicated the event to his late father, Mohammed Yasin, who died in 2003, saying he would have been a very proud man to see his son installed as Lord Mayor of Bradford.

"I must confess, I had never dreamed of one day becoming the Lord Mayor of a district, especially one that is thriving, prospering through regeneration and a truly wonderful and multi-cultural city. It is an immense honour and privilege to be so," he said. He then presented badges to the retiring Lord Mayor, Councillor Valerie Binney.

Councillor John Godward (Great Horton), Labour's longest-serving councillor, was appointed Deputy Lord Mayor.

e-mail: jo.winrow@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

THE NEW LORD MAYOR'S CHOSEN CHARITIES

The Born in Bradford Project

This project is the world's biggest research study into children's health.

The lives of more than 10,000 babies born in the city will be tracked starting from their mother's pregnancy until they become adults. It will cost about £3 million and aims to help prevent or cure illness and disease.

Its patron, Imran Khan, Chancellor of Bradford University and former Pakistan cricket captain, has backed an appeal to raise £1 million towards the study. Project manager Dr Pauline Raynor said: "We will look at genes, diet, lifestyle and upbringing.

"That will tell us why some children fall sick and why others don't. It should help us to pinpoint the causes of common disease."

There will be a public launch of the study in July and the aim is to start recruiting mothers-to-be from autumn. For more information call (01274) 364021.

Bradford Sport and Recreation for People with Disabilities

In 1985 Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities was first born as a charity to help provide sporting opportunities for people with disabilities across the district.

It had now grown into the main provider of sport and leisure activities for disabled people in the area.

More than 500 people now have a regular opportunity to take part in a wide range of sports, which include swimming, tenpin bowling, athletics, carpet bowls, golf and power lifting. The next stage for many of the athletes is to represent Great Britain at the World Games in Shanghai in 2007.

Rob Cooper, disability sports development officer for BSRAPD, said: "It's all about ability not disability.

"We have put in an £85,000 bid to the Lottery for a sports academy which would make use of community facilities and give professional coaching to the athletes.