Money continues to roll in for the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research appeal as the total today hit the £150,000 mark. And dozens of high profile events planned for the next few weeks look set to push it ever nearer the £1 million target.

Film buffs in Bradford are looking forward to being among the first in the country to see the comedy-drama About A Boy, at a Bradford Can... charity screening.

The film, starring Hugh Grant and based on the best-selling novel by British author Nick Hornby, will be shown on Thursday, April 18, and will be followed on Thursday, May 2, by a fundraising corporate bowling competition at Hollywood Bowl at the Vicar Lane leisure complex.

Other events planned for the coming months include sponsored walks, bike rides, black-tie balls and a skateathon at Bradford Ice Rink.

Every penny raised from these events will be doubled by Sovereign Health Care, of Bradford, in a match-funding deal worth £200,000.

A spokesman for Bradford Can... said: "It is only a few weeks since we hit six figures and here we are already at £150,000.

"The appeal is really beginning to pick up momentum. Events such as the charity screening of About A Boy can only boost it further.

"People can have a great evening out in the knowledge they are contributing to a charity which will be of direct benefit cancer patients locally, nationally and internationally."

The money will be spent on pioneering cancer research at the University of Bradford's Cancer Research Unit and on patient trials of anti-cancer drugs at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

When Bradford Can... has raised £1 million it will trigger a further £5 million of funding from Cancer Research UK.

Professor John Double, of the Cancer Research Unit, said: "I am delighted that the appeal is so successful. It is clear it is going to enable us to do more work which will be beneficial to the people of Bradford.