GLITTERING EMERALD EVENING FOR SIR BOBBY

One of the highlights of this years’ Tyneside Irish Festival will be a lively ball at St James’ Park in aid of north east cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie Robson, will be one of the guests of honour at the Emerald Ball on Friday 15 October for what promises to be a sparkling evening of music and laughter.

Hosted by Cork City’s storyteller ‘Pat the Hat,’ the Emerald Ball will feature music from the Michael Muldoon Irish Show Band, Irish cabaret dancing, a four-course dinner and disco. The star auction prize is a beautiful emerald necklace donated by Richard Sinton Jewellers, which organiser Tony Corcoran hopes will help raise a substantial total for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Tony, director of the Tyneside Irish Festival, says: “This is a chance for the Irish community on Tyneside to celebrate and show their appreciation of what The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has done for the region. We are also very much aware that many Irish patients also benefit from the pioneering work of our hospitals.

The Emerald Ball is just one of the events organised by the Tyneside Irish Society for its annual festival, which this year runs between 8 – 24 October. Now in its 24th year, other Tyneside Irish Festival events include visits by star performers such as the singer Frances Black, the original De Dannan and the Wildcats of Kilkenny as well as performances of a new drama ‘Fences’, by the Beg, Borrow, Steal Theatre Company.

The Tyneside Irish Festival was established in 1985 and is renowned as the UK's largest Irish Cultural Festival.

It is the perfect opportunity for audiences to extend their experience of Irish culture during the two week festival of traditional and country Irish music, drama, ceilis, talks, storytelling and poetry.

Lady Elsie says: “I’m looking forward to the Emerald Ball and I’ve no doubts it will be a wonderful evening.

“The emerald necklace donated by Richard Sinton is stunning and I hope it will create a great deal of interest in the charity auction.

“It is very good of the Tyneside Irish Society to choose to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. My family and I very grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.”

Tickets for the Emerald Ball are priced at £40 and are available from Tourist Information, Market Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. For more information please call: 0191 2220398 or logon to www.tynesideirish.com

BORO FANS BACKING SIR BOBBY

Boro Chairman Steve Gibson has praised fans who raised £13,000 for Teesside cancer patients via a charity football match at the Riverside Stadium.

Organised through popular Middlesbrough fanzine Fly Me To The Moon, the game in May raised almost £13,000 for north east cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Gibson, the Teesside Patron for the Foundation, received the cheque on behalf of the charity from Boro supporter Andy Clark and Fly Me to the Moon editor Robert Nichols.

Lifelong Boro fan Andy Clark, a national fuel manager from Billingham, was the driving force behind the fund-raising.

Andy said: “Last year we arranged a charity game at Conyers School in Yarm. It was pulled together at really short notice but we had a great time and raised £2,500 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“We were lucky enough to present that cheque to Sir Bobby in person and this year I was determined to raise even more money to help local people fighting cancer.

“We asked Steve Gibson if we could use the Riverside this time round and he kindly said yes. The venue made a huge difference and it was a very special day for everyone involved.”

The two teams were made up of regular contributors to Fly Me To The Moon’s online football message boards and were joined by former Middlesbrough players Paul Kerr and Mark Proctor. They were cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends with vocal backing from supporters’ group Red Faction.

After 90 minutes the score stood at 1–1 and, after a lively penalty shoot-out, the game finished 11-11. Players and supporters then enjoyed a post-match celebration in the club’s Legends Lounge.

Steve Gibson said: “I was deeply touched when I was asked to be a patron of Sir Bobby’s Foundation and I am delighted that Middlesbrough FC’s involvement is already making a tangible difference in raising funds for the charity.

“This was a magnificent effort by a big-hearted group of Boro supporters. It’s important that all Boro fans realise that the Foundation isn’t just for the benefit of people on Tyneside, but across Teesside too, so I hope even more of our fans give their support to the charity.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was launched in March 2008 to help cancer patients in the north east and Cumbria. Its main focus is clinical trials of new cancer drugs within the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

In its first year, over 600 new patients from across the region have been treated there. The Centre treats patients on clinical trials of new cancer drugs including early trials of laboratory tested drugs which are being used in patients for the first time as well as those which are further on in development and being compared to standard treatments for effectiveness.

The Centre was constructed by the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust and equipped by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Its’ specialist staff are funded through Newcastle University, the NHS Trust, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Cancer Research UK.

BBC RADIO 5 LIVE BROADCAST FROM THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON CANCER TRIALS RESEARCH CENTRE

By Tom Chaplin:

Snaking cables, endless wires, beeping machines, complicated equipment, fine expertise, giant personalities: the radio folk from London have come to town.

For one day only BBC Radio 5 live broadcasted Gabby Logan’s afternoon show live from the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital on Thursday 16th September.

The great and the good were there, obviously. Then there were the utterly stupendous, the fabulously committed, the embarrassingly talented, and the unerringly brave. And then there was, er, me. To make up the numbers? Hoover up the sandwiches? (Midday kick off, what do you expect?) To mooch around taking it all in.

I watched as Ruth Plummer… you know Ruth Plummer, Clinical Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, ushered Alan Shearer into a cubby-hole kitchen to make him a cuppa (white no sugar, for fans of detail).

I witnessed warm small talk between the ever-delightful Lady Elsie Robson and many recognisable faces…. with Gabby Logan about cake (more on that later), with Shearer about his tan (procured via golf she was reliably informed) and with Newcastle United’s Steve Harper about his tan (yes, golf also), and with many fundraisers and others keen to share a word.

I gaffawed as I realised radio people really do tiptoe around, manically making “we’re all doomed” gestures with their hands when a problem arises. Acting like ducks someone suggested, though the lady from the BBC preferred to refer to herself as a swan.

I smiled warmly as Gabby interviewed three patients of the centre: Terry who wasn’t much into reflexology, Claire who detailed the challenges of radiotherapy to the nation with amazing poise and calm, and Ruth – 78 years young, all zip wires and life’s-for-living and still fundraising.

I listened as the infectious enthusiasm of Lee McQueen, Apprentice winner and former employee of “Sir Alan”, enthralled with tales of Scarfell Pike, blisters and fundraising in honour of a mates’ mate who’d lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last summer.

I tasted the offering of Carol, Professor Plummer’s friend of many years, and the Foundation’s official unofficial cake maker. It was, as you’d expect, fine cake.

I heard as Warrant Officer Angela Kelly retold the story of Stevie Campbell – a Sergeant and “excellent soldier” based at Pelton with 3 Rifles who’d lost his life to an IED in Afghanistan, and who’s son was today to receive a shirt and football signed freshly by Alan Shearer. I heard too of her utterly inspiring fundraising on behalf the Foundation that she does with her dog, “Alan Shearer” and tale of Shearer (the dog) being randomly sent No.9 out of a possible 3000+ Race for Life race numbers.

I stood by in awe as a member of nursing staff offered me… ME…. a cup of tea. Thank you, but no I said in voice struggling to hide my surprise. What had I, in the company of all these people, these wonderful, hardy, energetic, inspiring, tough as nails, generous, thoughtful, life saving, brilliant people, done to deserve a cup of tea? Nothing. I’d done absolutely nothing but pick at the cheese savoury and mooch.

Sadly, almost as quickly as it kicked off – as with all good parties – this one was over before anyone had time to notice. The two and half million pound fundraising milestone had been mentioned on air. The radio gear packed up. The snaps had been taken, the cake gone. Gabby was done and ready for the train. Alan had departed. Lady Elsie and her three doting sons Andrew, Mark and Paul were saying warm goodbyes to staff and patients.

And so… snaking cables, endless wires, beeping machines, complicated equipment, fine expertise, giant personalities: gradually the centre begins to return to normality. Patients sit quietly receiving treatment, staff busily go about their work. The hum of activity as a cure is sought. And the unmistakable, unbreakable aura of one man remains. Thanks for a lovely afternoon, Sir Bobby.

BBC RADIO 5 LIVE BROADCAST FROM THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON CANCER TRIALS RESEARCH CENTRE

On the day (Thursday 16th September) when the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation broke through the £2.5 million fund-raising mark, BBC Radio 5 live broadcast live from the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre as part of its Septemberfest festival.

The two hour national radio show, hosted by Durham University graduate and Newcastle United fan Gabby Logan, focussed on the pioneering cancer research being done at the Sir Bobby Centre and the ongoing work of north east cancer charity - the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Interviewees included Sir Bobby’s widow and sons – Lady Elsie, Paul, Andrew and Mark Robson – Alan Shearer OBE, who is a patron of Sir Bobby’s charity, and Newcastle United goal keeper Steve Harper. In addition, Peter Beardsley visited the Centre to be filmed discussing the great legacy Sir Bobby Robson has left for other people fighting cancer.

Sir Bobby Robson Centre patients, staff and fund-raisers for the Foundation also contributed to the programme which paid tribute to Sir Bobby and the incredible legacy he left for cancer patients in the north east and Cumbria through his charity.

Speaking from the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, BBC 5 live’s Gabby Logan said: “What a truly inspiring and magical place and Sir Bobby Robson’s presence loomed large all afternoon.

“It was a joy to meet the patients, nurses and Professor Plummer here and I hope the Foundation’s fund-raising goes from strength to strength.”

Talking about the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Lady Elsie said: “Bob’s football legacy was great. But I think this is much more important and I think it was to him in the end. The charity was something very different, something very special. It was something which kept him vibrant and kept him going.

“I do get strength from coming here to the Sir Bobby Centre and it’s also very moving. This morning I felt it as I entered the building. It’s just a great legacy and when you see his name up on the sign. It’s tremendous what he did and all in the last two years of his life.”

On announcing the £2.5 million fund-raising mark had been passed Alan Shearer commented: “It’s an incredible achievement and a result of so many people’s generosity and so many people’s hard work.

“If he’s looking down today Sir Bobby will be smiling and will say that’s because of me. And so he should, he should be proud – he was an incredible man.”

Talking about the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre Alan added: “When you walk in here you shouldn’t see people smiling because you know why they’re here and what their treatment is for. But you do see so many people smiling.

“This is a very, very special place. We’ve all had family and friends who have lost people to cancer and Sir Bobby wanted to get to the bottom of that. He’s left a tremendous legacy.”

BBC Radio 5 live's Septemberfest, the station's annual festival, is in Newcastle and Gateshead from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th September. It brings together all the elements of the 5 Live mix – news, sport and entertainment – in front of live audiences and will include coverage of the Great North Run, full details at www.bbc.co.uk/5live.

The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle opened in February 2009. In its first year, over 600 new patients from the north east and Cumbria have been treated there.

The Centre treats patients on clinical trials of new cancer drugs. These include early trials of laboratory tested drugs which are being used in patients for the first time as well as those which are further on in development and being compared to standard treatments for effectiveness.

This means cancer patients from across the region can choose to participate in trials and have an opportunity to try new treatments as they emerge.

The Centre was constructed by the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust and equipped by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Its’ specialist staff are funded through Newcastle University, the NHS Trust, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Cancer Research UK.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation operates within the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust and a wider cancer research network to provide services not yet available within the NHS.