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.

NUFC MASCOT HONOUR FOR YOUNG FUND-RAISER

One of the Newcastle United mascots for Sunday’s (7th April) crucial league match against Fulham will be 10-year-old Zack Allen-Curry from Biddick Hall, South Shields.

Zack is attending the game with parents Andrew and Caroline and brother Liam thanks to Yorkshire-based company Distinction Doors, who are ‘treating’ the family in recognition of their collective efforts raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

14-year old Liam began their fund-raising efforts with a coast to coast cycle ride last year after his Granddad Jack Allen was diagnosed with cancer. 

Jack, a bingo hall manager from Forest Hall, was a patient in the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and sadly died in August.  The family then organised a night in memory of Jack at Westoe Rugby Club in aid of the Foundation, which Zack followed up with a sponsored dip in the North Sea on Boxing Day.

Cruelly, in October last year, in the same week that Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patron Alan Shearer met with the family to thank them for their efforts, Andrew Curry was diagnosed with a brain tumour.  In February, Andrew had a successful operation to remove the tumour and is recovering so well that he is going back to work next week.

Caroline says: “My dad Jack was helped by the Foundation and we’re all really proud to support their work. 

“When Andrew was diagnosed it just brought it all home to us again how important it is to keep pushing for better ways to find and treat cancer.

“We’re all so thrilled about going to the match.  Especially Zack.  He can’t wait to go out on to the St James’ Park pitch and meet the players.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we’re very grateful to Distinction Doors for their generosity.

“We’re just hoping we get a Newcastle win to top the day off for everyone.”

The family are continuing with their tremendous efforts for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Liam Allen-Curry is now planning a sponsored cycle ride to Paris in July.  He is currently training hard with the help of fellow Sir Bobby Robson Foundation fund-raiser Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison to ensure he will be fit enough to complete the challenge.

TOM'S BLOG: CELEBRATING FIVE AMAZING YEARS

By the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation's Writer-in-Residence - Tom Chaplin:

When a charity such as the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation celebrates a milestone like its fifth birthday, having recently reached the staggering fundraising total of £5.2million pounds, it's difficult to know who to thank first.

Should we send a special message of thanks to Sir Bobby himself, grateful for the sacrifices he made whilst very ill to push the Foundation forward, reaching its first milestone of £500,000 in just seven weeks? Of course we should.

But then what of his family, of Lady Elsie his wife who attends so many events, working tirelessly to push that total upwards? Or her sons – Paul, Andrew and Mark, who are always on hand to support her and the Foundation with energy and tenacity that their dad would be proud of? Of course we should.

Or we should begin with the hard-working administrative and accountancy team who work within the NHS, people like Pauline Buglass and Mike Love.  Or Liz Luff of Longstone Public Relations who publicises the charity? Of course we should.

But what about the Foundation's Patrons? Should we start our list of thanks with Alan Shearer, Niall Quinn, Steve Gibson, Mick Mills and Delia Smith – who lend their time, their profile, meeting patients and fundraisers and publicly representing the Foundation which great enthusiasm and passion? Of course we should.

Or Lady Elsie’s friends, also Patrons, who tirelessly support her and the work of the charity behind the scenes – Janet Bruce, Jane Morgan, George Caulkin and Rita Hogan? Of course we should.

Or surely we should begin with Professor Ruth Plummer, Sir Bobby's oncologist during his fifth and final battle with cancer, who came up with this whole fundraising idea in the first place? Of course we should. Or her colleagues, the team of magnificent doctors, researchers, nurses, scientists and support staff who are doing such an amazing job every day of the week at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Freeman Hospital. Should we start with them? Of course we should.

But what of the patients who attend the Centre, those who give their time so generously to the trials Professor Ruth and her colleagues are carrying out, when they are often very poorly and having to make huge personal sacrifices to help others? Should we begin with a special thanks to them? Of course we should.

Or what of the fundraisers, like Bike For Bobby’s Robbie Elliott and Phil Gray, Tony 'the Fridge' Phoenix-Morison, Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction’s Gina Long, the team behind Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration or ‘Run Geordie Run’ Mark Allison – all of whom raise huge sums for the charity and generate so many positive news stories? Of course we should.

Or those who arrange coffee mornings, bake cakes, do sponsored walks, shave their heads, give up treats, organise recitals and so much more in an effort to raise significant funds for the Foundation? Should we begin with them? Of course we should.

Or maybe be it would be most appropriate to begin by remembering all those who lost their lives through cancer.  To start by thanking the families and friends who have lost loved ones to the disease and celebrated their lives through funeral collections and emotional fund-raising events for the charity?  People who know all too well the pain of cancer and who don’t want others to experience it.

Maybe though, with so many people to thank on this special occasion it's not possible to start with anyone. Maybe we should just say a huge well done instead? Yes, well done. A huge well done to everyone. Well done… And thank you!

FIVE YEARS AND £5 MILLION TO HELP OTHERS FACING CANCER – SIR BOBBY’S LEGACY

Today (Monday 25 March) marks the fifth anniversary of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the cancer charity launched by Sir Bobby to help find better ways to detect and treat cancer.

And the Foundation is also celebrating another significant milestone with the announcement of a new fund-raising total – an incredible £5.2million.

It is a long way from the initial £500,000 target Sir Bobby first set for the charity after a request for help from his oncologist Professor Ruth Plummer in 2008.

Professor Plummer was treating Sir Bobby for his fifth, and what he knew would be his final time facing cancer.

He was receiving treatment in what was the clinical trials unit at Newcastle’s General Hospital.  The clinical trials team was moving to a new purpose-built unit at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital and needed £500,000 to equip the centre.

Professor Plummer explains: “Clinical trials of experimental drugs need specialist units and equipment so that we can safely work out the right dose, and also collect research samples from our patients so that we can test the new treatments and make them available to all patients as quickly as possible.”

Rather than simply supply the names of likely donors, as Professor Plummer had asked, Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie responded by launching a charity to get the money she needed.

The reaction was incredible.  Just seven weeks after the launch of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Professor Plummer had the £500,000 required and in February 2009 Sir Bobby officially opened the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre – he was very proud that the centre carried his name.

Sir Bobby said he would give up a year of his life to the charity.  In fact he became so passionate about it that, despite being very ill, he spent his last 18 months doing all he could to raise funds to help others with cancer.  He said he hoped it would become his legacy.

It is a legacy which continues to grow and has funded world-class cancer facilities within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that directly benefit cancer patients from across north east England and Cumbria - and which contribute significantly to international efforts and research into fighting the disease.

Professor Plummer adds: “Sir Bobby always had an eye on what we could do if we raised more than £500,000.  I think he’d be amazed at just how much more we’ve been able to do.

“The specialist cancer equipment and staff we’ve been able to fund as a result of the charity is making a tremendous difference to patients.

“The scientists, nurses, doctors, in fact everyone who is involved in treating and caring for patients are just so appreciative of the help we get thanks to the generosity of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation’s supporters.

“Sir Bobby was a great inspiration to everyone at the Sir Bobby Centre and his charity is a legacy worthy of his name.  We’re grateful to him every day.”

It has already made possible three significant new approaches to detecting and treating cancer by equipping the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and funding specialist training posts for a clinical trials doctor and nurse within it, jointly funding the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation PET Tracer Production Unit with Newcastle University and making the majority charitable contribution to help purchase the latest generation in 'stereotactic' radiotherapy.

The combination of these three elements - clinical trials of new drugs in the Sir Bobby Centre, patient PET scanning and new radiotherapy treatment which is so accurate it can treat inoperable tumours – is creating what Professor Plummer describes as “a very special jigsaw to help fight cancer.”

Sir Bobby’s wife, Lady Elsie, sons Paul, Andrew and Mark and committed Patrons including Alan Shearer, Niall Quinn, Steve Gibson, Delia Smith and Mick Mills are helping continue the work Sir Bobby began through the Foundation.

Niall Quinn, Patron, says: "I feel privileged to have met Sir Bobby, let alone to have contributed in a small way to his Foundation and the lesson I have taken from my involvement is that it's not what you have, it's what you leave behind.

"Sir Bobby may no longer be with us, but he left behind an incredible legacy and a remarkable team. Reaching £5m is a brilliant achievement, a testament to the deep generosity and tireless efforts of so many people.

"His team include those who are working hard to tackle cancer, but also everybody who helps to raise funds or contributes time, money or support. Bobby's memory brings out the best in people. Long may it continue."

Sir Bobby always said ‘when’ not ‘if’ we beat cancer.  He truly believed, with us all pulling together, we will beat the disease.

Alan Shearer, Patron, says: “Sir Bobby set off to raise £500,000, so for his charity to have raised over £5million is a staggering achievement.

“I’m proud to be a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and I’ve been privileged to meet some amazing people through the charity.

“Cancer affects everybody differently.  For some people, like Sir Bobby, it becomes a challenge.  We all know that sometimes it’s just not possible to beat the disease but I’ve met lots of people who have dug in regardless.  People who know that by helping the Foundation they’re helping others who will have cancer in years to come.

“The work the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has funded over the past five years is incredible and really pushing the boundaries of how we detect and treat cancer.  I’ve no doubts the next five years will be just as positive and bring even more advances. 

“My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this fantastic team effort.  I'm sure Sir Bobby would be humbled and very proud at his charity's ongoing success.”