BOLTON Wanderers are aiming high in the Premiership -- but they also have a different goal this year.

The top footballers want to help beat breast cancer. And they have joined the BEN-backed Bolton Busting Breast Cancer campaign to boost the fight against the disease.

The Cancer Research Campaign started the appeal earlier this year to raise £500,000 over the next two years to fund research at Manchester's Christie Hospital into breast cancer.

This was launched in the Bolton area because the survival rate for breast cancer here is 70 per cent -- four per cent below the national average.

Already, hundreds of local people have got behind the campaign to reach the cash target.

Now, the Wanderers have adopted the charity for the current season, and pledged to boost cash through a variety of initiatives including the Chairman's Ball next September.

Team manager Sam Allardyce is already Patron of the BBBC and believes the Wanderers can be of great help to the campaign.

"Breast cancer can affect not only women but men as well, although male cases are quite rare," said Sam.

"The Wanderers have decided to adopt the Bolton Busting Breast Cancer campaign as it is a local campaign and breast cancer affects so many families.

"By pledging the Wanderers' support over the course of this season, we hope to raise not only money but awareness of the campaign and the work that needs to be done."

Christine Blease, Bolton appeal fund-raiser, said they were "delighted" to have the Wanderers on board.

She said: "We have plans for many fund raising events in Bolton, and this includes an It's A Knockout competition next year which we hope the whole Bolton community will support.

"Seven out of 10 women now survive breast cancer, and no-one spends more on breast cancer research in the UK than the Campaign.

"An important part of the appeal is to make women breast-aware. Many breast cancers are first noticed by women themselves."

Donations to the Bolton Busting Breast Cancer appeal can be made at any branch of Lloyds TSB, or by contacting Christine Blease on 0161-772-5563 or 0779-8932236.