BRADFORD’S Cricket World Cup winner Adil Rashid has come on board with a new campaign by charity Yorkshire Cancer Research to raise funds for its life-saving work.

This is the charity’s first Yorkshire-wide fundraising campaign, and it was launched with the help of World Cup hero Rashid.

The Heaton-born spinner went head-to-head with the public in the great Yorkshire sport of welly wanging in aid of the Give It Some Welly campaign.

The charity is aiming to raise £10 million a year to help 2,000 more people in the county survive cancer every year.

Yorkshire has the fifth highest cancer rate in England and the fourth highest mortality rate.

The charity wants to raise awareness of some of the causes of cancer, how to spot symptoms and the importance of attending screening appointments - some areas of the county have some of the lowest screening participation rates in the country.

By taking part in welly wanging and holding a variety of other fundraising events, Yorkshire Cancer Research hopes to meet its fundraising target of £10 million and raise further awareness of the improtance of good lifestyle choices and attending screenings.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive of Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “We wanted to celebrate the build up to Yorkshire Day and fundraise for the charity.

“Bradford and Yorkshire could do so much better on cancer outcomes, and we are the only charity by Yorkshire and for Yorkshire.

“Having Adil at the launch was brilliant, it encouraged more people to come and find out what it was about.

“I have to say, his bowling is better than his welly wanging, but Adil is a superstar. He is such a gentleman and a lovely guy with all the people visiting us and it was fantastic and a pleasure to have him with us.”

It has been a whirlwind for Adil Rashid since helping England to an historic first World Cup win on July 14, from the dramatic victory at Lord’s to a heroes welcome back to his home city of Bradford, and preparations are now well underway for the Ashes series against Australia which starts next month.

He said: “I was supporting Yorkshire Cancer Research’s first ever campaign, which is a great cause aimed at saving people’s lives.

“It gives people the opportunity to learn more about cancer and raising awareness around the issue.

“It is definitely an issue close to my heart, helping people less fortunate in Yorkshire and those who are struggling.

“It’s a great honour for me to be a part of this campaign.

“We had great fun and I really hope people take note and are inspired to organise their own welly wanging fundraiser for this really good cause.

“I have to say though, I think my spin bowling technique is quite a bit better than my welly wanging; maybe I’ll stick to my day job!"

People across the Bradford district are being urged to hold welly wanging competitions as part of the Give It Some Welly campaign on Yorkshire Day on August 1.

Dr Scott added: “Bradford is a key region for us in our fight against cancer as sadly participation in screening is very low.

“We’re really hoping that the proud people of Yorkshire pull on their wellies and help give cancer the boot!”