A leading cancer charity has said a special thank- you to a Bradford couple whose fundraising efforts have netted thousands of pounds for research into the disease.

Wendy and Boyd Midgley, of Clayton, have been officially declared the most successful fundraising couple in Bradford after raking in more than £25,000 for The Cancer Research Campaign since 1993. Their latest effort, a charity fun day at The Black Bull, Clayton, on August 26, raised £3,000.

"We organised our first fundraising event for The Cancer Research Campaign because everybody we knew had friends or family who had suffered from cancer," said Boyd, aged 44.

"We had so much fun that first year we decided to keep going. Each year we set ourselves a new target and every year we smash the target, which means that we have to raise even more money the year after."

Wendy, aged 43, added: "This year has been particularly difficult as one of the family has been diagnosed with cancer and there was a family bereavement a week before the event.

"We knew in our hearts that we had to carry on and make this year's event happen. I want to thank all our family, friends and staff at the Black Bull who have pulled together to make it its usual great success."

The couple encouraged anyone thinking of holding a fundraising event for the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Campaign, to give it a go.

"We do two events a year and a raffle at Christmas," said Wendy. "We enjoy doing it and it seems to grow each year."

Andrea Bacon, community fundraiser for The Cancer Research Campaign in Bradford, said: "We are really grateful to Wendy and Boyd and their family and friends for all their continued hard work, especially in such difficult circumstances this year.

"Raising £25,000 is a huge achievement and a real credit to everybody involved."

The Cancer Research Campaign funds a third of all cancer research in the UK and is European leader in cancer drug development.

The Bradford Can... appeal aims to raise £1 million for cancer research in the city, which will trigger a further investment of £5 million by The Cancer Research Campaign.

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