Former Ipswich players including Allan Hunter, George Burley, John Wark and Bryan Hamilton together with guest of honour, Lady Elsie, helped to raise £8,853 through raffles and auctions that took place during the cruise.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Guests on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ recent ‘Sir Bobby Robson Cruise’ from Harwich to Amsterdam and Newcastle, were taken on a trip down memory lane with reminiscences of the much loved Ipswich Town, Newcastle and England football manager.
Former Ipswich players including Allan Hunter, George Burley, John Wark and Bryan Hamilton together with guest of honour, Lady Elsie, helped to raise £8,853 through raffles and auctions that took place during the cruise.
Nathan Philpot, sales and marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We were delighted that this proved to be such a successful cruise and are extremely grateful to Lady Elsie Robson and the ex-Ipswich Town players for their participation and fundraising efforts.”
Former Ipswich players including Allan Hunter, George Burley, John Wark and Bryan Hamilton together with guest of honour, Lady Elsie, helped to raise £8,853 through raffles and auctions that took place during the cruise.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
‘TYNE FRIDGE’ – FUNDRAISER COMES HOME
The 49-year-old granddad returned to his native north east this weekend, 15 days into his Smeg John O’Groats to Land’s End Endurance Challenge in which he is attempting to run 40 marathons, in 40 consecutive days, and carrying a 42.5kg fridge every step of the way.
Tony has undertaken some incredibly punishing running challenges for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation – including running 30 half marathons over 30 consecutive days and running for 24 hours – all carrying an enormous fridge. His ‘fridge-running’ has captured the imagination of thousands but this challenge, which is his last in the UK, is pushing him to the edge of his endurance.
He was visibly moved by the cheers of family, friends and supporters as he approached St James’ Park today (Saturday) before posing for photos with the statue of Sir Bobby.
Tony says he has been “repaired a bit” and is struggling with the camber of the roads and slightly uneven weight of the fridge, which is combining to cause problems with his left leg.
He says: “My left leg has just been dead at times. I could swing it in a forward direction but no side to side movement. I couldn’t salsa but I move forward.
“We couldn’t quite rectify it but going down the road in Ponteland a lovely lady offered us some water and we said no thanks but we’d love a phsyio if you got one. She said, oh yeah, there’s one next door!
“He was great. Got me straight on the bed and popped my pelvis back in place. You could hear the pop. It was brilliant. I limped in and walked out. Gavin Cree he was called and he was a miracle worker.
“Next year I’m going to be Tony ‘the Fridge-less.’ I’m putting a for sale sign on this fridge when I get to Land’s End. It’ll be available for purchase with only 1,053miles on the clock and money going to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
“But when you see people on the road, and they come up and say they have a loved one with cancer and you’re running for them, that’s when it really hits home. We lost Auntie Pam to cancer just a couple of weeks ago and many more family members too so we know exactly what they’re going through.”
Fittingly, the finishing point for Day 15 and the starting point for Day 16 (Sunday 18th August) of Tony’s run was Sir Bobby Robson’s statue at St James’ Park in Newcastle. From here, he faces a further 25 days running, and another 660miles, to reach Land’s End on 11 September.
Tony adds: “It’s been great running home to Newcastle and, I’m thinking, well what have I got to look forward to next. And that’s a lot of days of pain, there’s an arduous task ahead of me. But no doubt I’ll meet many more people and have more adventures.
“We’re on this crazy adventure. I’ve my feet blessed, people cooking for me, all sorts. We call this phenomenon ‘fridge love.’
“Sir Bobby Robson, now he really is a legend. There was a time when I was up in the mountains and it was getting late. I was running in the dark and I really did feel low and wondering how stupid this whole thing is and looking at the enormity of the task ahead of us. And I had this dark moment, I’m only human.
“So I started shuffling through my iPod to see if I could come up with a song or whatever and I’m clicking through and Nessun Dorma came on. And I could see Sir Bobby with a tear in his eye at the end of the World Cup semi final when we hadn’t got through and I could just hear him saying go on the Fridge. It was amazing.
“So if I ever need a lift, going up a hill or whatever, I know that song is there.
“Doing this, it’s the greatest honour of my life. And if I can help or cheer up people fighting cancer even for a moment during the 40 days I’m doing this, then that’s something I’ll hold dear forever.”
Tony is running for around seven hours each day. His route through Scotland took him from John O'Groats to Inverness and over the Cairngorms, tackling ascents of 1,500 ft, into Edinburgh.
His route on Sunday will take him over the Tyne Bridge and past the Angel of the North finishing just outside Durham. Then on Monday he will continue on through Darlington and Northallerton.
As he leaves the north east, he will run through York and on to Nottingham. After Leicester, he will hit Milton Keynes before arriving in London. He will then run south west for the final leg of the journey, reaching the south coast at Southampton, before following the coast line westerly past Exeter and on to Land’s End.
In total, Tony will be running 1,053 miles and is receiving tremendous support from the public. He also has a generous headline sponsor in Smeg, the premium domestic appliance brand, who have made this challenge possible.
In addition, Smeg is the supplier of Tony's bright orange FAB10 fridge, which weighs in at a staggering 42.5kg (equivalent to combined weight of 40 litres of water or 40 house bricks).
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 international research into the disease.
Please follow Tony’s progress live via via www.tonythefridge.com and on Twitter through @tony_the_fridge.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
LADY ELSIE BOWLED OVER BY GRAEME SWANN SUPPORT
Graeme is proud to be a member of the committee of volunteers behind Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction. This online auction, text-to-win competition and Suffolk Ball aims to raise an incredible £1million this October for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and cancer services within two Suffolk hospitals.
The first Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction, in 2011, received incredible support and auction lots included Jose Mourinho’s FIFA World Coach of the Year 2010 Ballon D’Or.
That year, Graeme kindly donated a VIP test match experience and cricket memorabilia and this year he wanted to do even more to help and is donating a personal training session.
Graeme says: “I was approached last time to donate prizes for the auction and I was happy to give some cricket tickets. Then when I was asked if I'd like to be part of the voluntary organising committee for the auction this time round I just jumped at the chance.
"It's great for me. I was a huge fan of Sir Bobby and now I get to help his charity and support these other great charities too. It's win win for me.
"Supporting cancer charities is hugely important because cancer is something which affects us all. Everyone in the country is directly or indirectly affected by it.
"Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction is something I'm proud to be involved in and I'm offering a bowling training session as a prize. Or batting, I can do a bit of that too.
"And you don't have to be a sporting person to help out by donating a prize. Anyone can get involved and help us raise £1million."
Taking place from 10 – 27 October, Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction will raise funds to help fight cancer. The first auction raised almost a quarter of a million pounds with the support of celebrities from the sporting world and beyond.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, Andre Villas Boas, Alan Pardew, Arsene Wenger, Lewis Hamilton, Gary Lineker, David Beckham and Ant and Dec all donated prizes to the auction and this year’s prizes already look set to match these.
Lady Elsie is very touched by Graeme’s involvement in Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction, which was founded and is coordinated by her friend Gina Long.
Lady Elsie says: “Bob absolutely loved cricket and I know he’d be thrilled by the support Graeme’s giving this auction.
“We’re so lucky to have such wonderful help for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. I’m often amazed by the amount of effort people will go to for the charity. It’s really very touching.
“My husband launched his charity to help other people faced with cancer and we’re all so proud and so glad that we can keep doing just that. The scientists and experts are always moving closer to better ways to detect and treat cancer and we plan to keep supporting them in their work as long as we can.”
Auction prizes already confirmed for 2013 include a VIP trip to next year’s F1 in Monaco by private ‘Eclipse’ jet, exclusive tickets to the 2014 PFA Awards Dinner and a week sailing on a luxury catamaran for ten people around the British Virgin Isles.
There are many more lots to be announced via www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.com and this year’s auction also includes a text-to-win competition to ensure anyone can enter and support the fundraising.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
INCREDIBLE FINAL ‘FRIDGE RUNNING’ CHALLENGE
Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison, from Hebburn, is one of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation’s most recognisable fund-raisers.
The 49-year-old granddad has undertaken some incredibly punishing running challenges for the charity – including running 30 half marathons over 30 consecutive days and running for 24 hours – all whilst carrying an enormous fridge.
Tony’s ‘fridge-running’ has captured the imagination of thousands but he knows it is not something he can continue to put his body through and this weekend he is beginning his last major challenge.
On Saturday (3rd August) at 6am, Tony will begin The Smeg John O’Groats to Land’s End Endurance Challenge. He will be attempting to run 40 marathons, in 40 consecutive days, and carrying a 42.5kg Smeg fridge every step of the way.
(Please watch this short film http://vimeo.com/70872587).
Tony says: “Carrying the fridge is hard and I know I need to draw a line under things. In my head, I’ve had a few ideas about overseas challenges but nothing concrete and I know I need to stop before I damage myself.
“This will definitely be my last big fridge run in this country and I wanted to make it something special. To really challenge myself. And there’s no doubt this run will do that.
“It’s going to be much harder than anything I’ve ever experienced before. I’m not the slightest bit afraid but I am very wary. Some of the roads and the hills, mountains in some cases, will be brutal.”
Tony will be starting early each day and running for around seven hours. The start of his route will take him from John O'Groats, heading south towards Inverness, then across the Cairngorms into Edinburgh, tackling ascents of 1,500 ft along the way.
From here, he will run south east along the A68 to his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne and then continue south, passing through York and on to Nottingham.
After Leicester, he will hit Milton Keynes before arriving in London. He will then run south west for the final leg of the journey, reaching the south coast at Southampton, before following the coast line westerly past Exeter and on to Land’s End.
In total, Tony will be running 1,053 miles and he concedes that The Smeg John 0’Groats to Land’s End Endurance Challenge may literally be ‘A Fridge too Far.’
Tony adds: “I’ve never actually run two back-to-back marathons with a fridge, let alone 40. But my awareness and fund-raising campaign is all about tackling what is thought to be impossible and making it to the other side.
“I’m lucky because I know I can take my fridge off. But if you have cancer you can’t do that. It’s a burden you’re forced to carry and keep going.
“Cancer can beat you to your knees. My efforts are a tribute to all those people who have to fight cancer every day. And by fund-raising for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, I feel like I’m doing something practical and positive to help.”
Tony has received tremendous support for his latest challenge and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patron and Middlesbrough FC chairman, Steve Gibson, even arranged for him to use the club’s training facilities at Rockliffe.
He also has a generous headline sponsor in Smeg, the premium domestic appliance brand, who have made this challenge possible.
In addition, Smeg is the supplier of Tony's bright orange FAB10 fridge, which weighs in at a staggering 42.5kg (equivalent to combined weight of 40 litres of water or 40 house bricks).
John Davies, Brand Manager for Smeg UK, comments: “As an organisation, Smeg has been affected directly and indirectly by the pain and sadness caused by cancer.
“As a family run business with a commitment to the local communities we serve, we felt strongly about helping in every way we can to join in to combat this disease.
“We truly believe in the extraordinary fund-raising efforts of Tony the Fridge in aid of the Bobby Robson Foundation, to help find better ways to detect and treat cancer. We're behind Tony every single step of the way as our national charity of the year 2013.”
Please follow Tony’s progress live via via www.tonythefridge.com and on Twitter through @tony_the_fridge.
If you would like to donate, please visit Tony’s Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Justgiving site http://www.justgiving.com/tonythefridge. You can also donate by texting ‘FRID93 £5’ to 70070.
The 49-year-old granddad has undertaken some incredibly punishing running challenges for the charity – including running 30 half marathons over 30 consecutive days and running for 24 hours – all whilst carrying an enormous fridge.
Tony’s ‘fridge-running’ has captured the imagination of thousands but he knows it is not something he can continue to put his body through and this weekend he is beginning his last major challenge.
On Saturday (3rd August) at 6am, Tony will begin The Smeg John O’Groats to Land’s End Endurance Challenge. He will be attempting to run 40 marathons, in 40 consecutive days, and carrying a 42.5kg Smeg fridge every step of the way.
(Please watch this short film http://vimeo.com/70872587).
Tony says: “Carrying the fridge is hard and I know I need to draw a line under things. In my head, I’ve had a few ideas about overseas challenges but nothing concrete and I know I need to stop before I damage myself.
“This will definitely be my last big fridge run in this country and I wanted to make it something special. To really challenge myself. And there’s no doubt this run will do that.
“It’s going to be much harder than anything I’ve ever experienced before. I’m not the slightest bit afraid but I am very wary. Some of the roads and the hills, mountains in some cases, will be brutal.”
Tony will be starting early each day and running for around seven hours. The start of his route will take him from John O'Groats, heading south towards Inverness, then across the Cairngorms into Edinburgh, tackling ascents of 1,500 ft along the way.
From here, he will run south east along the A68 to his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne and then continue south, passing through York and on to Nottingham.
After Leicester, he will hit Milton Keynes before arriving in London. He will then run south west for the final leg of the journey, reaching the south coast at Southampton, before following the coast line westerly past Exeter and on to Land’s End.
In total, Tony will be running 1,053 miles and he concedes that The Smeg John 0’Groats to Land’s End Endurance Challenge may literally be ‘A Fridge too Far.’
Tony adds: “I’ve never actually run two back-to-back marathons with a fridge, let alone 40. But my awareness and fund-raising campaign is all about tackling what is thought to be impossible and making it to the other side.
“I’m lucky because I know I can take my fridge off. But if you have cancer you can’t do that. It’s a burden you’re forced to carry and keep going.
“Cancer can beat you to your knees. My efforts are a tribute to all those people who have to fight cancer every day. And by fund-raising for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, I feel like I’m doing something practical and positive to help.”
Tony has received tremendous support for his latest challenge and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patron and Middlesbrough FC chairman, Steve Gibson, even arranged for him to use the club’s training facilities at Rockliffe.
He also has a generous headline sponsor in Smeg, the premium domestic appliance brand, who have made this challenge possible.
In addition, Smeg is the supplier of Tony's bright orange FAB10 fridge, which weighs in at a staggering 42.5kg (equivalent to combined weight of 40 litres of water or 40 house bricks).
John Davies, Brand Manager for Smeg UK, comments: “As an organisation, Smeg has been affected directly and indirectly by the pain and sadness caused by cancer.
“As a family run business with a commitment to the local communities we serve, we felt strongly about helping in every way we can to join in to combat this disease.
“We truly believe in the extraordinary fund-raising efforts of Tony the Fridge in aid of the Bobby Robson Foundation, to help find better ways to detect and treat cancer. We're behind Tony every single step of the way as our national charity of the year 2013.”
Please follow Tony’s progress live via via www.tonythefridge.com and on Twitter through @tony_the_fridge.
If you would like to donate, please visit Tony’s Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Justgiving site http://www.justgiving.com/tonythefridge. You can also donate by texting ‘FRID93 £5’ to 70070.