FOOTBALL FUND-RAISING HELPS FIGHT CANCER

A festival of five-a-side football is on offer next month (July) thanks to the return of the popular Robson 5s competition.

In aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the Robson 5s features men’s, women’s and junior sections and is held each year at Soccerworld, Newcastle.

This is the tournament‘s fifth year and, once again, it is attracting teams from across the region.  In fact, event manager, Ian Carr, believes this year could be the best yet.

Ian, who organises the event along with Peter Hughes and Neal Eddy, says: “We’re really pleased with the number of teams already entered for this year’s Robson 5s.  We’ve also been sponsored by Karting North East which has helped a lot.

“Support for the tournament from all over the region just keeps building and it’s become a regular football fixture.

“It’s always a really good day’s football and we’re very grateful to all officials who give up their time to help.

“When we set out to do something to help the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation back in 2008 we had no idea we’d still be going five years on.  It’s something everyone involved with the event is really proud of.”

Teams already entered in the Robson 5s men’s section include Sunderland AFC fans ‘Ready To Go’ and the Army and, in the women’s section, Newcastle United FC, the Army and Fire Brigade.

Pauline Buglass, from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, says: “We’re grateful to everyone involved in organising the Robson 5s.  It’s a wonderful way to raise money to help fight cancer.

“It’s always a competitive tournament and I’m sure this year will be no different. We hope the weather will be kind and that all the players and supporters enjoy the day.”

This year’s Robson 5s is on 7 July at Soccerworld, West Road, Newcastle.  For more information please visit www.therobsonfives.co.uk or call Ian Carr on 0753 8935 009.

NEW CHARITY DVD ‘ANOTHER (K)NIGHT TO REMEMBER’

Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration, supported by Virgin Money, was a very special evening of music, memories and laughter.  Family, friends, musicians, comedians, football greats and admirers gathered on the banks of the Tyne on 18th February to remember Sir Bobby on the night he would have turned 80.

Tickets for the event sold out within hours and now, thanks to a new dvd released today (Tuesday 4th June), Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration can be enjoyed by a much wider audience.

Raising funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the dvd, Another (K)Night to Remember, includes all the highlights from the event including Sir Bobby’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ along with a host of funny and moving extra interviews from the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Bob Moncur and Lady Elsie.

Sir Bobby’s son Mark described the event at The Sage Gateshead as “one of the best nights of my life” and, as well as providing a fitting celebration of the football legend’s life, it also raised an incredible £80,000 for The Alan Shearer Foundation and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Lady Elsie says: “We thoroughly enjoyed the celebration of Bob’s birthday.  It was a wonderful night and we were surrounded by friends and well-wishers. Bob would have been in his element.

“It was just so special to have gathered together such a wonderful line up of performers and football people.  And to have raised so much money for charity too, really I’m just blown away.

“It says a lot about the commitment of everyone involved in the organisation of the night, the generosity of the sponsors Virgin Money and the people who gave up time to appear, that it all ran so smoothly.  People are still talking about it now and I’m sure the DVD will be very popular.”

The team behind this dvd, Brian and Helen Mawson, Geoff Wonfor and Ray Laidlaw, also produced the popular A Knight to Remember dvd in 2009, which has raised more than £100,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Paul Lloyd, Marketing Director of Virgin Money said: “We were proud to sponsor and support such a fantastic celebration of Sir Bobby's life on what would have been his 80th birthday and to have raised over £80,000 for such a great cause, seems perfectly apt.

“I look forward to watching the DVD and reliving the night many times over."

The charity night in February at The Sage Gateshead was originally planned with Sir Bobby’s involvement in 2009 and he filmed what became his last interviews to be shown at the event.

Hosted by Jim Rosenthal and former Lindisfarne singer Billy Mitchell, Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration featured an amazing line-up of performers and football greats including Mark Knopfler, England legend Stuart Pearce, Joe McElderry, Northern Sinfonia - Orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, The Unthanks, Simon Day, Paul Whitehouse, Russell Watson, Alistair McGowan, Peter Brewis of Field Music, The Cornshed Sisters, Paul Smith of Maximo Park, Ruby Turner, Faryl Smith, Scarlet Street, Ben Ottewell of Gomez, Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas and Newcastle United’s Alan Pardew, Shola Ameobi  and Steve Harper.

Guests included Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patrons with Middlesbrough FC chairman Steve Gibson and Sir Bobby’s Ipswich captain Mick Mills in attendance.  Sunderland AFC manager Martin O’Neill, Durham CCC’s Stephen Harmison, football legends Bob Moncur and Jack Charlton and Hebburn star Chris Ramsey in the audience.

Faryl Smith sang a stunning duet of Barcelona with Russell Watson and says: “It was a massive honour to be asked to join in the celebration for Sir Bobby and to help out with both charities.

“We’re a football mad family and I played for many years in a girls’ football team, so being involved was very rewarding.”

The event was organised by a dedicated and experienced team working on a voluntary basis.  They are music promoter, Adam Collerton; award-winning director, Geoff Wonfor; football and media producer, Oliver Fowler; tour manager, Sue Collier and event producer, Ray Laidlaw, formerly of Lindisfarne.

The team received tremendous support from The Sage Gateshead, performers, guests, local businesses and the football community - including Sir Bobby’s former clubs, FIFA, UEFA and The Football Association.

An ideal Father’s Day present, Another (K)Night to Remember is available in Windows, Newcastle, MetroCentre and Darlington priced at £16.99.  It is also available in T&G Alan, Morpeth, That’s Entertainment in Newcastle and the MetroCentre, Gojo in Hexham  and online from http://www.mawson-wareham.com/product.php?prodid=127.

BACKING A WINNER FOR SIR BOBBY AT NEWCASTLE RACES

Always a highlight in the region’s social calendar, the Collingwood Insurance Beeswing Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse combines action and glamour like no other event.

More than 20,000 visitors will pack out High Gosforth Park for what is always a memorable flat racing day as well as an opportunity to dress up to the nines.

And this year, Newcastle United’s goalkeeping coach, Andy Woodman, is creating a very special event through his hospitality company Number 1 Promotions that will not only add to the occasion but will also raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Having lost his mum, Gail, to cervical cancer when he was just 17, it is a charity which Andy is very keen to support.

Andy says: “Losing my mum to cancer when I was so young was incredibly hard.  I was a young footballer then and she’d always been my biggest supporter.  My brother and I just didn’t believe she would die.

“Cancer is a very cruel disease and sadly too many people have to go through what we all did.  That’s why it’s so important to keep supporting charities like the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“I never had the pleasure of meeting Sir Bobby in person but he feels ever present at the club training ground.  There’s a huge picture of him on the wall of the manager’s office so he’s there every day when we have our morning meeting.  It’s like he’s keeping an eye on us all.

“I’ve heard so many stories about him and been to events raising money for his charity.  The work it funds is amazing and I’m really proud to be doing my bit to help.”

For the last 11 years, Andy has run similar hospitality events at the Epsom Derby raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process. 

Guests in the Number 1 Promotions Luxury Pavilion and Enclosure will spend Ladies Day rubbing shoulders with sports and show business celebrities while helping to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Launched by Sir Bobby in 2008, the charity aims to find better ways to detect and treat cancer and to do so while directly helping patients in this region currently receiving treatment.  It also helps fund projects which improve cancer patient care.

Andy adds: “We’ve had great support and enthusiasm for the event from everyone here at the racecourse and from Newcastle’s players and staff.  I’m really grateful for that.

“With every event like this there’s a moment afterwards when you feel you’ve achieved something important.  Because this is helping Sir Bobby and raising money to help cancer patients I know it will be a particularly special moment this time.”

The Collingwood Insurance Beeswing Ladies Day is on Saturday 27th July.  For more information, please visit www.no1promotions.com or call Number 1 Promotions on 08450 569360.

SIR BOBBY'S BREAKTHROUGH AUCTION

Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Auction is back… and this time the target is £1 million!

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer call for businesses to support online auction held in memory of the legendary football player manager

29 April 2013, London, UK – The great and the good from the world of football came out in force at last night’s PFA Awards Dinner to pledge their support to the second ever Sir Bobby’s

Breakthrough Online Auction.  Led by PFA CEO Gordon Taylor OBE, along with David Sheepshanks CBE Chairman of St. Georges Park and Richard Bevan the CEO of The League Managers Association, the industry came on board to urge businesses and individuals to donate a prize to the online auction in memory of the late football hero, Sir Bobby Robson.

The first Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction in 2011 raised close to a quarter of a million pounds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and so in 2013 the charities are determined to go further and have set an ambitious target of £1 million. 

The auction will open for bids between 12th – 27th October 2013 and is set to garner even more media attention than before, bolstered by BT Sport and BT MyDonate coming on board as headline supporter; the ongoing involvement and support from A-list celebrities and sports stars alike; and multiple media partners, ensuring vast exposure. 

With many of the auction lots for 2013 still a closely guarded secret, those interested in donating a prize need only see the list of those involved in 2011 to know the illustrious company they would be keeping…

Some of the star lots were Jose Mourinho’s FIFA Ballon D’Or 2010 World Coach of the Year Award Trophy, donated by the man himself, along with FC Barcelona donating two prizes to watch them training, meet the players, receive a signed shirt and being VIP guests at Camp Nou.  Sir Alex Ferguson, Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, Andre Villas Boas, Alan Pardew, Arsene Wenger, Lewis Hamilton, Gary Lineker, Graeme Swann, David Beckham, and Ant & Dec were all fellow donators of lots.  Other auction prizes included a week at a luxury resort in the Bahamas, tickets for the final of The Masters Snooker, the chance to drive a Jaguar for a week and a VIP Experience at the Professional Footballers Association Awards. 

Explains auction committee Chairman Lance Bradley, MD of Mitsubishi Motors UK, “Whether it’s a VIP football or sporting experience, a holiday, a year’s supply of chocolate, a luxury weekend break, unique one-off experiences, we need businesses and individuals to support us by donating prizes.  Those who do will not only enjoy the association with some of the world’s biggest sporting names and exposure in our extensive marketing campaign, they will also have the satisfaction of knowing they are supporting cancer causes close to the hearts of Sir Bobby Robson and his family.”

The money raised this year will go towards supporting clinical trials for new cancer treatments, ongoing support of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, as well as two Suffolk hospitals.

Mark Robson,  Sir Bobby’s son and part of the auction committee, continues: “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.”

The online auction is being supported again by Breakthrough Breast Cancer Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, major football and sports clubs globally, plus sporting bodies, and many other organisations and corporations who have pledged their full support.

Gina Long, the auction’s founder, concluded:  “I was lucky enough to know Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie for over 35 years.  Sir Bobby was loved the world over and I wanted to create something very special to honour him.  The online auction is a fantastic platform that allows everybody to become involved in helping us raise crucial funds for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and two Suffolk hospitals. We have been overwhelmed by the global support and want to encourage businesses and individuals to get involved by generously becoming a prize donor – it really will make the biggest difference in helping us to create what we think will be one of the most exciting and high profile fundraisers of 2013.”

For more information on how to donate, visit: www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.com.

CELEBRITY GOLF DAY IN AID OF THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

North East football came together today (Wednesday 24 April) to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Current and former players and staff from Middlesbrough FC, Sunderland AFC and Newcastle United were among the golfers swinging into action at the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Day at Rockliffe Hall Hotel, near Darlington.

Organised by Sir Bobby’s family, it is the third annual golf day in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and charity Patron and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson was among the high-profile guests.

Other guests supporting the event included Middlesbrough’s Tony Mowbray, Jason Steele, Nicky Bailey, Dean Gordon, Jimmy Warnett and Richard Smallwood, former Sunderland players Micky Horswill, Ritchie Pitt and John MacPhail and Newcastle United’s John Carver, Steve Stone, Andy Woodman, Bob Moncur, John Beresford, Steve Howey, James Perch, Dan Gosling and Shola Ameobi.

Tony ‘The Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison, who ran for 24 hours carrying a fridge at the weekend to raise funds for the Foundation, was also among the golfers.  The granddad from Hebburn was celebrating his 49th birthday and received a special thank you from Sir Bobby’s son Andrew.

Lady Elsie says: “This is always such a special day for my family and I because we’re so involved with organising things.  We meet so many wonderful fund-raisers for the Foundation and it feels good to be one of them at this time of year.

“I love the way this golf day unites the north east football clubs.  Bob would have been very touched by that.

“The support our charity receives from Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough particularly is wonderful and we really appreciate it.  Especially as I know they’re each coming to the end of a long football season.”

Middlesbrough FC chairman, Steve Gibson, says: “It’s fantastic to see all three North East football clubs so well represented.  It’s a busy time of the season for everyone but people made the effort to come out and that’s a tribute to Sir Bobby and all his charity is trying to achieve.

“I’m very proud to be a Patron of the Foundation and it’s fantastic that the people of the North East have been so supportive of it.  It’s raised over £5million now and that money’s helping people with cancer in this region.”

Former Sunderland player Micky Horswill says: “I knew Bobby well.  He used to joke that he would receive a better welcome at Sunderland than he did at Newcastle in his later years.

“He just loved football and everyone at Sunderland respected him for that.”

Former Sunderland player John MacPhail says: “It’s a thrill to be part of the fund-raising efforts for Sir Bobby’s Foundation today.  It’s a mark of the man to see how much support the charity gets from everyone in the region.”

Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi says: “I’m very happy to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and especially on a lovely day like this.  We’re playing a bit of golf but today is about raising money and hopefully some awareness of the charity.

“Sir Bobby meant the world to me.  I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him, his generosity, his kindness and his leadership.  He was a mentor to me even after he left Newcastle.  It’s very important to me to make sure I’m involved and to do what I can to raise money for his Foundation.”

A VERY SPECIAL PAINTING FOR THE SIR BOBBY
ROBSON FOUNDATION - FROM A PRINCE TO KNIGHT

After playing 18 holes at Rockliffe, guests at the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Day will have the opportunity to bid on a very special painting of Sir Bobby, which was created especially for the event by the widely collected young British artist Jeremy Houghton.

A Newcastle United fan from Worcestshire, Jeremy’s paintings are included in the collections at Buckingham Palace, St James Palace, The Royal Collection of Luxembourg and Chatsworth House and he was the official artist for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

His international resume includes a recent official commission to paint HM the Queen in 2009 and he is currently the resident artist for HRH The Prince of Wales at Highgrove.

As a keen supporter of Newcastle United, Jeremy was pleased to pay his own tribute to the memory of Sir Bobby by painting him at the height of his playing career in 1962 and he plans to help the Foundation again with an exhibition of sport in the near future.

24 HOUR CHALLENGE COOLLY COMPLETED

Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison, from Hebburn, has completed his toughest challenge to date for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The granddad, who will turn 49 this week, successfully completed The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge by running for 24 hours carrying a 42kg Smeg fridge.

Tony says: “It’s been tough, very tough, but knowing I was raising money for a charity that’s really making a difference to people fighting cancer helped pull me along.  And all the encouragement from the general public, the messages of support, the cars beeping and all the donations just made a world of difference to me.

“The support I’ve had has blown me away.  It’s just been incredible.  I couldn’t have done this without my support team who stayed with me and looked after me so well.

“I’ve been through 24 hours of toil and struggle to demonstrate the burden of cancer.  But I can take my weight off and take the struggle off my shoulders.

“For everybody who is fighting cancer, this challenge was for you.”

Tony covered an incredible 60 miles during the challenge running one mile laps around Newcastle’s Quayside and was monitored by a team from Northumbria University’s Physiology of Exercise Department. 

He was challenged to undertake the marathon effort by Appliances Online, the UK's largest online kitchen appliance retailer and the retail giant is donating £15,000 to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

John Roberts, chief executive of Appliances Online, says: “The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge was always going to be incredibly tough for Tony. He has done brilliantly to run solidly for 24 hours carrying a six stone fridge and cover 60 miles in that time and we know he has given it his all.

“We are delighted to donate £15,000 to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in recognition of his attempt, and would like to thank Tony and his supporters for all their efforts.”

Tony has previously raised over £13,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation by running 30 consecutive, daily half marathons carrying a fridge on his back.  He now has plans for an even greater fund-raising challenge.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria, and which contribute significantly to wider research into the disease.

To sponsor Tony for The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge please visit www.justgiving.com/tonythefridge.  Or you can text a donation via JustTextGiving by texting FRID93 and the amount in pounds to 70070.

Please visit www.appliancesonline.co.uk/community/projects/24HourChallenge for more information on Tony’s challenge.

A VERY COOL CHALLENGE - 24 HOURS AND 100 MILES CARRYING A FRIDGE...

One of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation’s most dedicated and unusual fund-raisers is taking on an incredible new challenge this week.

Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison, from Hebburn, raised over £13,000 for the charity last year by running 30 consecutive, daily half marathons carrying a fridge on his back.

Now Tony is back, with an even larger fridge, and this Friday (19 April) he will be attempting to run for 24 hours, covering an astonishing 100 miles - the equivalent of almost four marathons - around Newcastle’s Quayside after a challenge was issued by online retail giant, Appliances Online.

The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge is Tony’s most physically demanding challenge to date and he has been training hard to ensure he is up for it. If he is successful, he will set a Guinness World Record for the longest run completed with a fridge on the runner’s back.

Tony says: “The 30 half marathons felt like a long relentless slog.  Every day getting up and out again was really hard but this is a whole different sort of pressure.

“To even carry the fridge for 24 hours isn’t easy but to do that and keep running, well, it’s going to a be a struggle.  My new Smeg fridge looks great but at 42kg it’s even heavier than the last one.

“This challenge is best described as the impossible journey.  Both mentally and physically, the reality is that I am a Granddad one week away from my 49th birthday and, to be honest, I have no idea whether I can l keep going for 24 hours let alone reach 100 miles.

“My preparation has been good but you can be as thorough as you like and still fail.  I was very lucky not to pick up any serious injuries during my marathon challenge and I just hope I’m that lucky again on Friday.

“I’m passionate about raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.  I’ve seen the work the charity funds and met some remarkable people who are benefitting from it.

“I’m proud to be playing a part and just hope I can complete this challenge and keep helping the charity.  Thinking about that, and the loved ones I’ve lost to cancer, will be my motivation when it gets really tough on Saturday afternoon.”

Tony will be setting off at 6pm on Friday and, all being well, will complete 100 one mile laps of Newcastle’s Quayside finishing at 6pm on Saturday.  The start and finish point is the Pitcher and Piano bar, which, along with Malmaison Hotel, is providing support.

Tony was challenged by Appliances Online, the UK's largest online kitchen appliance retailer, to undertake the marathon effort. The retail giant is donating £15,000 to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

John Roberts, chief executive of Appliances Online, says: “The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge will be a gruelling test for Tony but I have every confidence that he’ll reach the finish line with flying colours.

“I first heard of Tony when he was doing his 30 consecutive half marathons and immediately got in touch to see how we could help. Six months later, we’re about to see Tony become the first person to undertake the Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge and take home £15,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria, and which contribute significantly to wider research into the disease.

To sponsor Tony for The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge please visit www.justgiving.com/tonythefridge.  Or you can text a donation via JustTextGiving by texting FRID93 and the amount in pounds to 70070.

Please visit www.appliancesonline.co.uk/community/projects/24HourChallenge for more information on Tony’s challenge.