ORGANISERS of a charity auction in memory of Sr Bobby Robson hope this year’s event will raise more than £1m to help fight cancer.

The great and the good from the world of football came out in force at the PFA Awards Dinner last night (Sunday, April 28) to pledge their support for the second ever Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Auction.

Led by PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, along with David Sheepshanks, chairman of St George’s Park and Richard Bevan, chief executive of The League Managers Association, the industry came on board to urge businesses and individuals to donate a prize to the online auction.

The first auction in 2011 raised close to a quarter of a million pounds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and this year the charities are determined to go further and have set an ambitious target.

The auction will open for bids between October 12-27 and will have the support of A-list celebrities and sports stars from across the country, with unique prizes available.

Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son, who is part of the auction committee, said: “Sadly, cancer is likely to affect every one of us in one way or another and my family knows first hand the pain it can cause.

“That’s why we are so committed to continuing the work started by my father in supporting research for new treatments.

“My family and I are very grateful to everyone who has already contributed a prize and we continue to be astounded by the generosity of the businesses and individuals who get involved.”

A website will credit the companies and individuals who donate prizes.

To find out more or donate a prize log on to www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com