THE Asian community is rallying behind the Magic Eye Appeal in a bid to help combat cancer.

A poster and leafleting campaign in Urdu and Gujarati has been launched in a mosque in Little Harwood.

And thousands of Muslims and Asians are helping put East Lancashire on the health map with a state-of-the-art scanner thanks to collections at prayer times in mosques.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal aims to raise £200,000 for an ultrasound endoscopic scanner which will help diagnose throat and stomach cancer.

Abdul Piracha, Asian community organiser for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph appeal, said that an estimated quarter of the population in Blackburn and Darwen was Asian and that "every section and group" must get involved.

He said: "I think it is important because the Asian community will equally benefit from the equipment. This is something for the community at large, working together."

The scanner equipment will benefit the whole of East Lancashire as one in seven of all cancer deaths are in an area where the equipment can be used.

And at present 600 people a year have to travel to Liverpool to use diagnostic equipment.

The first collection to take place at Friday prayer at the Plane Tree Road Mosque, Little Harwood, rased more than £500. Organiser Iqbal Makda, 41, who also has plans for special religious and sports fund-raising events, said: "People from the Muslim community are really keen to get involved. The appeal is breaking down barriers in the community."

Hundreds of leaflets are being delivered to homes in the area and posters are being distributed to community centres and mosques. Magic Eye collection envelopes are also being distributed to Asian school children.

Mike Madigan, an administrator for the Ethnic Minority Development Association in Little Harwood said the initiative was a "practical application" of the Muslim religion.

"This is a terrific initiative as the Muslim community is by its very nature very charitable and giving and cancer does not distinguish between "ethnicity, colour or race."

The third multi-cultural south Asian festival -- billed to be one of the biggest in the North West -- has also nominated Magic Eye as its local charity.

Naushad Surve, chairman of Mela, said: "We are supporting the Telegraph's appeal because cancer is an illness that is also at the heart of Asian communities. There is very little cultural awareness of the issue and that is lethal." Mela will be held at Corporation Park in July. For more information about the mosque collections or the poster campaign contact Mr Piracha on 01254 668346 or Mike Madigan on 01254 680757.