Celebrations are under way after the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal hit a fantastic £400,000.

That means we are almost halfway to the £1million target for cancer research here in Bradford.

Hundreds of events have taken place in the district since the appeal was launched last September. From head shaves to sponsored walks, each event has helped towards this bumper total.

Every penny raised will be spent in Bradford to find drugs to treat cancer, which affects one in three people.

When £1million is raised, it will trigger another £5million funding from Cancer Research UK.

Appeal chairman Linda Pollard said it is a brilliant achievement. "The people of Bradford are fantastic, there's a great community spirit and they have really got behind the appeal," she said.

She said they had been particularly boosted by a pledge from Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care to match pound-for-pound anything raised in the community up to £100,000. The appeal has also had several anonymous donations from local people.

"The next big event is the Gala Dinner featuring the Grand Order of Water Rats on Saturday, September 7. We are urging people to buy their tickets, either per table or individually, and come and see the stars,"said Mrs Pollard.

The event takes place at the Hilton Hotel, Bradford, and tickets cost £45 each. To book contact the Bradford Can... Appeal office on (01274) 235482.

Mrs Pollard said news of the latest milestone was a positive example of people in Bradford doing something for their own community.

The money will go towards Bradford University's Cancer Research Unit and Bradford Royal Infirmary. At the hospital, drugs which have been developed will undergo trials on cancer patients.

If successful, the work done there could help cancer patients throughout the country or even the world.

The appeal was launched on September 19 last year and the T&A has adopted it as the paper's official 75th birthday campaign. Only weeks after starting, it broke the £50,000 barrier.

Major events so far have included Bradford City and Bradford Bulls stars being locked up by Bradford North Police and only set free when fans pledged money to the appeal.

Yorkshire Co-operatives Limited have given £150,000 to fund a clinical research fellow at the Cancer Research Unit for three years. Another £6,778 was raised by people in a 21-mile walk in the Dales, organised by Bradford Rotary Club.

At Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, 13-year-old Damaris Treasure and four friends were soaked by classmates at a Splashathon.