Sir Bobby gives £500,000 for cancer research site

8:13am Thursday 7th August 2008

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FORMER football manager Sir Bobby Robson yesterday handed over a cheque for his first £500,000 to fund cancer research and clinical trials in the North-East.

The 75-year-old former Newcastle and England manager launched the campaign only recently to help experts beat the disease.

He is fighting an ongoing battle with cancer and hopes his efforts will help others.

Sir Bobby, who was born in Sacriston, County Durham, and still lives in the Chesterle- Street area, is also suffering from laryngitis, but insisted on addressing the crowd yesterday.

He said: “Cancer is a global issue and we have had support from all over the world, but this money is largely from the people of the North-East, and first and foremost it will benefit the people of the North-East. Thanks to their huge generosity and imaginative fundraising, we reached our first target in just eight weeks, and they are still pushing on so we can fund other cancer-related projects in this region.”

In March, the oncologist treating Sir Bobby, Professor Ruth Plummer, asked him for contacts who might like to contribute towards a Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care, in Newcastle.

He went one step further by setting up The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The charity has so far raised about £700,000.

Sir Bobby said: “I have achieved many things during my career in football, won trophies, represented my country, received all kinds of wonderful awards and even been knighted, but I am as proud of this achievement as I am of any other in my life.”

The £500,000 will fund research facilities at The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, including a 12-bed unit with treatment rooms, a laboratory and consulting facilities, to be built at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital and opening in January.

Prof Plummer said: “The fantastic generosity of the people of the North-East and the dedication of Sir Bobby and his team means that we have secured the funding we needed in an unbelievably short time.

“The new trials unit will open in January 2009 and by continuing to work in partnership with other local and national charities, we will be able to increase our ability to offer new cancer drug trials to the patients in the region.”

To make a donation, go to sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.

co.uk or send a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton, NE7 7QG.