SIR BOBBY'S BREAKTHROUGH AUCTION RAISES £202,774 TO FIGHT CANCER

Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction ended last night (Sunday 23 October) and raised an incredible £202,774 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The auction, and a ball in Suffolk held on Thursday (20th October), were organised by volunteer fund-raiser Gina Long in memory of Sir Bobby Robson and her friend breast cancer campaigner Sally Balch.

Gina is rightly proud of what has been achieved and says: "Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction and Ball has been a magnificent success.

"This has all been made possible because of the enormous love and respect for Sir Bobby Robson, who I was privileged to call a great friend.

"So many football clubs wanted to do their bit to honour Sir Bobby and the support from auction prize donors, sponsors, individuals, companies and the generous bidders have helped make it a huge success and way beyond our wildest dreams.

"I did this in memory of Sir Bobby and my beautiful friend Sally Balch who lost her battle with breast cancer. I hope the fantastic auction committee, who have worked so hard, have done them justice."

Over £50,000 was raised at Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Ball, which was held in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and attended by Lady Elsie Robson and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patrons Mick Mills and Delia Smith.

All other funds were raised through the two week online auction which featured 188 incredible lots including television, driving and sporting experiences, sports memorabilia, luxury treats, dining, jewellery, clothing and holidays. It was supported by Sir Bobby's former teams, football clubs as far away as Oregon, USA, and representatives from the world of rugby, horse racing, golf, snooker, tennis, cricket and more.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker, Ant and Dec, Katherine Jenkins, Graeme Swann, Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, Denise Welch, Andre Villas-Boas, Harry Redknapp and Fabio Capello are just some of the high profile names who donated very special prizes and helped make the auction such a success.

The star lot was Jose Mourinho's FIFA Ballon D'Or World Coach of the Year Award 2010 trophy, which raised a staggering £26,000.

Other prizes included:

• FC Barcelona experience with personal presentation by Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola
• Two match tickets and hospitality at 2012 UEFA Champions League final
• David Beckham signed shirt and ball
• Wimbledon Centre Court tickets to the 2012 Championship
• Watch England training session with Fabio Capello and signed shirt presentation
• A silver replica of the cup ‘Taca de Portugal,’ won by FC Porto under the management of Sir Bobby
• Ipswich Town FC experience to play on the Portman Road turf and be coached by legendary player
• Two tickets to the final of Britain`s Got Talent 2012
• Red Arrows VIP day at RAF Scampton
• England rugby shirt and tickets to a 6 nations game
• Customised vintage Milner safe, professionally restored with a Newcastle United legends theme
• Tickets to Katherine Jenkins Daydream tour and a meet and greet after the show
• Behind the scenes tour of the BBC Match of the Day studios with Gary Lineker
• Create your own genuine Branston Pickle experience
• Tea for two and a tour of the House of Commons
• Luxury Grand Bahama island holiday
• A Loose Women TV experience as guests of Denise Welch
• Luxury three bedroom villa holiday in Carvoeiro, Western Algarve, Portugal
• VIP football experiences at Rangers, Celtic, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Cardiff City, Swansea, Millwall, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Colchester United, Burnley, Fulham, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Bolton, Wigan, Sheffield United, Bristol City, Watford, Norwich City, Derby County, Liverpool, Everton, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, and Portland Timbers (Oregon, USA) football clubs

Lady Elsie Robson says: "Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction has taken a tremendous amount of effort. My family and I are extremely grateful to Gina for her vision, hard work and enthusiasm in creating this ambitious charity venture.

"We're also very appreciative of all the many people who have pitched in and helped by volunteering their time, expertise and incredible auction prizes.

"When my husband and I launched our charity in 2008 Bob said he felt like he was at the helm of a team again. What he called his last and greatest team and taking on a challenge far greater than any football match.

"We began with the aim to equip a centre to trial new cancer drugs and we've been able to fulfil that ambition and do so much more.

"Our medical trustees are always looking for the next breakthrough, the next promising investment into cancer equipment or training. Always looking to fulfil Bob's ambition to provide truly world class facilities for others fighting cancer.

"Sadly cancer affects us all in one way or another, but with us all pulling together, one day we will beat it."

DELIA SMITH BECOMES A PATRON OF THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

Delia Smith CBE, Britain's best selling cookery writer and joint majority shareholder in Norwich City Football Club, will tonight (20th October) be announced as a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation at a dinner to raise funds for the charity.

Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Ball at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, will also raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Lady Elsie Robson is taking the opportunity to announce Delia’s new role.

Lady Elsie says: “After my husband died I asked a small group of friends if they would help support our ongoing efforts fighting cancer through the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“Delia was one of those people and, very kindly, she immediately agreed. Since then we’ve been waiting for an appropriate occasion to announce her support.

“It’s taken a bit longer than any of us had planned and I’m happy that we’re finally in a position to thank Delia publicly for her behind the scenes support. Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Ball will be a wonderful event and a very fitting occasion to welcome Delia formally as a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie launched the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in March 2008 to help find more effective ways to treat and diagnose cancer. It funds projects which directly benefit cancer patients including the clinical trials of new drugs at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Delia joins a select group of high profile supporters as a Patron of the charity. Sir Bobby’s Ipswich Town captain Mick Mills, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, Sunderland AFC’s Niall Quinn and Middlesbrough FC chairman Steve Gibson all generously contribute in that role.

Delia says: “Sir Bobby was a great friend and inspiration to me for many years, and it is a privilege to help continue the magnificent work he and Elsie started in any way I can.

“Cancer knows no boundaries, and it is wonderful that this is one struggle in which all football clubs have united. This evening is just one step towards the ultimate aim – of eradicating the scourge of this disease.

“It will happen, and by supporting Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction and Ball we can make it happen sooner rather than later. I look forward to a record-breaking evening.”

Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Ball and Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction aim to raise £250,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The online auction has attracted 160 lots which include unforgettable sporting and television experiences, unique memorabilia donated by some of the biggest names in football and incredible luxury holidays.

Football clubs across the UK, and as far away as the USA, have donated genuinely ‘money can’t buy’ prizes and the auction has the support of all of Sir Bobby’s teams.

Lady Elsie adds: “One of the greatest strengths of our charity, and something I know my husband was immensely proud of, is the way football clubs have joined together to back our cause.

“In his last book, Bob wrote that cancer takes no account of your team, your age or anything else and the wonderful support we’re receiving from football clubs all over the world reflects that. We’re extremely grateful to Delia and all the football clubs and fans who are contributing to our fight against cancer.”

Norwich City is generously contributing to Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction by offering the opportunity to present the Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Month Award on the pitch at Carrow Road. The prize also includes two tickets to the Premier League fixture between Norwich City and Sir Bobby’s former club Newcastle United on Saturday 10th December and a meal at the Gunn Club.

For more details on Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction or to make a donation please go to www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com or follow via Twitter @sirbobbyauction.

The majority of auction lots end on Sunday 23rd October although a small number will be completed at the Ball tonight.

SIR BOBBY'S BREAKTHROUGH AUCTION KICKS OFF

A fantastic online auction with over 130 fantastic prizes that aims to raise £250,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer officially begins on Saturday 8 October.

An array of priceless sporting memorabilia donated by luminaries at home and abroad head the fabulous auction which runs for two weeks at www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com.

The likes of Brazil legend Pele, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and the great Sir Alex Ferguson and other football royalty have donated auction items – highlighting the impact Sir Bobby had on the world game.

His former clubs, Newcastle and Ipswich Town, have also donated fantastic prizes. Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid coach who worked with Sir Bobby, has donated the most significant personal trophy he has landed so far in his phenomenal career - his FIFA Ballon D’Or World Coach of the Year trophy.

But fantastic sporting memorabilia from the likes of Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, a host of Premier League clubs and sporting stars such as Lewis Hamilton and Graeme Swann are just the tip of the iceberg for an auction which has more than 130 items going under the virtual hammer.

Also on offer is a true once in a lifetime opportunity for two people to watch training at FC Barcelona, arguably one of the greatest teams ever. Meet and greet with the superstar players and receive a first team signed shirt presented by their manager Pep Guardiola himself. Plus two tickets for a FC Barcelona home match at the Nou Camp, one of the world's truly great stadiums.

Pep Guardiola said “I encourage everybody to take part in this charity initiative for Sir Bobby Robson. For us as a club and for myself it is an honour to participate and to have the opportunity to invite two persons to come and visit our training session, attend a game at our stadium and receive a signed shirt from our players. I encourage everybody in England and around the world to contribute in this and to fight against cancer by supporting Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction.”

Mr Guardiola was interviewed about why FC Barcelona are supporting the auction on the club's website here.

Further prizes include a 24-hour supercar experience, a week at a luxury resort in the Bahamas and a personal tour of Alnwick Castle given by the Duchess of Northumberland are other highlights.

The auction, and an associated lavish fundraising ball, was the brainchild of Gina Long, a friend of the Robson family, who wanted to organise a fundraising event to truly honour Sir Bobby and also Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which she is a passionate supporter of and Chair of The West Suffolk Group.

Gina Long, Founder, added: “I have been truly touched and overwhelmed by the generosity of every single donation of an auction item and messages of goodwill and support.

“We set out to raise as much money as possible for these two wonderful charities and as we launch this wonderful auction, I know we are heading in the right direction.

“I would now ask everyone to take a look at the wonderful auction list as there really is something for everyone. Please offer what you can to help make a difference to people suffering from this wretched disease. You can also help make a big difference by simply texting SBBA11 £3 to 70070.”

Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son and part of the Auction Organising Committee, said: “We are hugely appreciative of every single individual or organisation which has donated something for the auction or offered their support.

“My dad would have been so proud at the way everyone has pulled together by contributing such incredible prizes.”

The auction is being held in memory of Sir Bobby and breast cancer fundraiser Sally Balch.

It will run on-line for two weeks from this Saturday 8th October until Sunday 23rd October – and aims, alongside the fundraising ball, to raise £250,000 for both charities. You can register to bid from Saturday on the website and the full list of superb prizes can be found at www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com.

Adam Clark, Project Manager, said “It is an incredible campaign. Every day we hear from someone who wants to help or has something to donate. The support for what we are doing has been amazing. The quantity, breadth and quality of the items donated to the auction lies testament to the combined reach of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

The auction is being supported by HRH the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron, culinary legend Delia Smith, John McCarthy and former Ipswich Town stars George Burley, Alan Brazil and Mick Mills MBE.

David Sheepshanks, a member of the organising committee, said: “Sir Bobby Robson was loved across the entire football world.

“He touched so many people’s lives and it is only fitting that so many people across football, sport and beyond have got behind this wonderful auction.

“I now urge everyone to start bidding to help raise as much money as possible for these two wonderful charities.”

For more details on the fundraiser or to make a donation or for more information go to: www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com or follow via Twitter @sirbobbyauction

SOLO ALPS CHALLENGE FOR SIR BOBBY

Wendy Taylor, the head of Media at Newcastle United, has given herself a mountain to climb. In fact, she has given herself several. Beginning this Saturday (1 October), Wendy is embarking on a solo 180km trek around the Alps, an extraordinary challenge which she is undertaking to raise vital funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

A keen amateur climber in her rare moments of free time away from running the press office of the club Sir Bobby both supported and managed, Wendy will travel through three countries - France, Italy and Switzerland - climbing a total elevation gain of 28,500ft, close to the height of Mount Everest, during her seven-day adventure.

Setting off from Les Houches, France, Wendy is tackling a more taxing variation of the Tour du Mont Blanc, which circles the Mont Blanc Massif, the highest mountain in the European Union. To make the task even more arduous, she is attempting to complete the trek inside seven days rather than the more traditional 11 or 12 and is doing it on her own.

There will be few creature comforts; no hotels, no gourmet meals, not even a tent. "I'll be carrying a bivvy bag on my back and camping under the stars," says Wendy, who joined Newcastle in the summer of 2010 after a spell in a similar role at Newcastle Airport. "I'll have food for seven days with me: cereal bars, energy gels for lunch, dehydrated survival-style packet meals for dinner.

"It gets dark at around 7.20pm at the moment, so I'll be setting off before sunrise every morning. Being by myself for so long will be one of the hardest tests, so I'm hoping to stay in touch with the outside world through my mobile phone and Twitter. I'll have seven spare batteries for my Blackberry weighing down my backpack!"

While Wendy was raised as a Sheffield Wednesday supporter (her granddad was former Wednesday manager, Eric Taylor), she was always aware of Sir Bobby's contribution to football, in the North East and beyond. When she arrived at St James' Park, she quickly came to appreciate his lingering influence at all levels of the club, as well as the important work carried out in his name by the Foundation.

"Working at Newcastle, it felt right to me to support a charity close to the heart of the club and the people connected to it," Wendy says. "There's a portrait of Sir Bobby in the manager's office at the training ground and there's a natural synergy there.

"I always admired him for his management, his time with England, but I didn't know so much about what he had done here and what he meant to people. I certainly do now. When you speak to fans, to people who worked with him or played for him, they all talk about him in such high terms. You mention his name and people want to sit down and talk about their memories."

Wendy's day-to-day work involves dealing with media enquiries, responding to stories, both positive and negative, handling press conferences, organising player interviews and taking managerial charge of Newcastle's matchday programme, website and nufc.tv. It is a relentless endeavour, magnified by global fascination with the Premier League.

"Sir Bobby seems to be universally missed and universally adored," she adds. "To be able to do something like this to raise money for his Foundation feels like a real privilege as well as a challenge and I'm sure it'll be that which keeps me going."

Since its launch in 2008, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised over £3.5 million to help find more effective treatments for cancer.

It funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria, including the clinical trials of drugs at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.

Wendy will be providing regular updates on her progress through her Twitter page. You can follow and offer her encouragement at @wendytaylor13 and please contribute to her fundraising efforts at www.justgiving.com/wendynufc.

SPECIAL SUPPORT FROM THE 'SPECIAL ONE'

Jose Mourinho is donating the most prestigious personal trophy of his glittering career to a charity auction in memory of Sir Bobby Robson, his mentor at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.

Real Madrid's Portuguese manager, 48, was award Fifa’s Ballon D’Or World Coach of the Year award in 2010, the year he won the Champions’ League with Inter Milan. He beat off competition from World Cup winner Vicente Del Bosque and rivals including Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson to pick up the award.

Now he is donating the trophy he received to become a lot in Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction, which runs online from 8-23 October. The auction, and a charity ball next month in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, will jointly raise funds for the Sir Bobby Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Mourinho has recognised the part Sir Bobby played in his own football development by giving the wonderful money-can’t-buy prize – to the delight of organisers and the Robson family alike.

Sir Bobby’s son, Mark, says: "The entire family is completely astounded by this generous gift from Mr Mourinho. We are thrilled and so thankful to him. My Dad would have been so proud by the way all the different clubs and football managers around the world are pulling together by contributing such incredible prizes."

The auction has attracted over 100 prizes and is also being supported by HRH the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron.

Auction founder Gina Long adds: "When I started planning the auction, I could only have dreamt that I would get support from such magnificent people and great companies.

"But now that has been turned into reality, it can only help us achieve our goal of raising more than £250,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer."

Other 'money can't by' auction prizes include:

• Join Fabio Capello at an England Senior Men’s training session
• Attend the Professional Footballers’ Association Awards ceremony
• VIP Manchester United tickets donated by Sir Alex Ferguson
• A morning on Newmarket Heath with ten times Champion Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
• A personal tour of Alnwick Castle given by the Duchess of Northumberland
• Tickets to Centre Court at Wimbledon
• Tickets to The Masters snooker final in 2012, with the chance to meet the players
• A personally addressed and signed replica helmet, donated by Lewis Hamilton
• A rare limited edition of Pele’s autobiography, signed by the man himself

For more information on how to bid or donate prizes please visit www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com

GREAT RUNNERS GET TOGETHER FOR SIR BOBBY

Fund-raisers registered with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to run the Great North Run were invited to an informal get-together at the Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle, last night (Tuesday 13th September).

It was an opportunity for Lady Elsie and representatives of the charity to meet and thank the runners who have been training hard ahead of Sunday. It was also a chance for Mark Allison, also known as Run Geordie Run, to talk about his experiences running across America for charity and to inspire runners in the final days before their half marathon challenge.

One of the runners with a very personal reason to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is Sir Bobby’s youngest son Mark Robson.

This is the fourth year Mark and his partner Kim Jennings have tackled the Great North Run in aid of the charity and getting together with other fund-raisers ahead of the run was a very positive experience for him.

Mark says: “My family and I are very grateful to everyone who is undertaking the Great North Run in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and it was a pleasure to meet just some of the runners.

“No doubt there will be some very accomplished athletes raising funds for us but for some people the 13 miles will be a huge personal challenge. It means a great deal to us that they are taking on that challenge to raise money for Dad’s charity. In many cases I expect, like me, they have their own personal reasons for wanting to support a cancer charity.”

Sir Bobby Robson launched his charity in March 2008. He described it as his last and greatest team and was very proud of its achievements.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation helps the experts find more effective ways to treat and diagnose cancer. It funds projects which directly benefit cancer patients including the clinical trials of drugs at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.

Mark adds: “I’ve done the Great North Run three times now and I’m always struck by the camaraderie and support along the route.

“In many ways it’s like the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. It’s a very big team effort and the sheer volume of people taking part adds up to something very special.

“I’d like to wish all the runners the very best of luck and to thank everyone who has sponsored a friend, colleague or family member for taking part. The money raised will be used very carefully helping people fighting cancer and in finding more effective treatments to beat this disease.”

Other Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Great North Runners include a team of doctors, nurses and administrators from the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Freeman Hospital and Tom Chaplin, the charity’s official Writer in Residence.

The runners were inspired by the presence of Mark Allison who recently raised over £100,000 for the Children’s Foundation and St Benedict’s Hospice by running across America in just 100 days.

He spoke to the runners to help motivate them in their final training and gave useful advice about the physical and mental aspects of running long distances.

Mark says: “It was a huge honour to be asked to talk to the Great North Runners raising funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“It was a pleasure to chat with them and to draw upon my recent experiences running 3,100 miles across the USA. I hope I have helped inspire them as they take on their own running challenge on Sunday.

"Both of my parents lost their battle against cancer. I know only too well just how valuable the treatment and research undertaken by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is in the ongoing fight that claims the lives of so many of our loved ones.

"I know from experience how motivating it can be running to raise funds for causes which mean a lot personally. I hope everyone doing the Great North Run for charity achieves their goals and I wish them all the very best of luck."

KEEGAN'S 'ENTERTAINERS' TICKETS

Tickets are selling fast to watch Kevin Keegan's 'Entertainers' side take on Liverpool at the home of the Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park on Sunday 9 October.

The game will benefit five charities, including the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and will feature one of the charity's Patrons - Alan Shearer - as well as a host of well known players.

Liz Luff from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation says: “Sir Bobby was thrilled when his Italia 90 World Cup squad reunited to play Germany in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

“I expect he would be equally enthusiastic about seeing Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers line up in black and white again too. The game is raising money for five wonderful charities and promises to be a fantastic night.

“We’re grateful to everyone involved in its organisation and particularly to Alan Shearer who will once again be wearing the iconic number 9 shirt. He does a wonderful job as a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and his commitment is much appreciated by Lady Elsie and Sir Bobby’s family.”

All ticket news, and information about the charity dinner on Saturday 8th October, can be found here www.theentertainersreunited.co.uk