NINE football fans are walking back to the North-East the day after Newcastle United’s Bank Holiday Monday match away to Ipswich.

They are fundraising for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the charity set up by the man who managed both clubs during his long career in football.

It is in memory of father-of-one Lee Hope, a fireman from Newcastle, who died from bowel cancer a year ago, aged just 33.

His widow, Amy Richardson, and brother Scott Hope, who is also a firefighter, working in North Shields, said: “My brother was a massive Newcastle fan and loved Sir Bobby Robson.

“He even asked people for donations to the charity when he married Amy instead of wedding presents.

“Just before he died, he asked for any donations in his memory to go to the foundation and I think he’d be amazed to know that amounted to more than £4,000.”

Hike4Hopey is a challenging 333 mile charity walk from the statue of Sir Bobby at Portman Road, Ipswich, to his statue at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

Mr Hope added: “This has been such a difficult year for Amy and Livia.

“It’s felt important to do something positive and this has given us something to focus on.

“There have been all kinds of Hike4Hopey fundraising events and activities already, like bike rides and a family fun day, and we’re really proud to have raised over £10,000.

“This walk though, this will be very hard. We only have 12 days to complete it and that means walking around 28 miles every day.

“He’d be overwhelmed by the response to the challenge and he’d be extremely proud of the amount of money being raised in his name for such a fantastic and worthwhile charity.”

The Hike4Hopey Challenge has received the backing of football legend Alan Shearer, who is a patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

He said: “It was a great pleasure to meet with Scott and hear more about Hike4Hopey. I wish all the walkers the best of luck because that’s a very, very long walk.

“Scott talked to me about losing his brother to cancer last year.

“His family have been through an awful lot and it says a lot about them that they’re fundraising for the foundation at this time.”