QUEENS OWN SUPPORT FOR THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

With military precision, the Queens Own Yeomanry has raised almost £6,000 for north east cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

D Squadron, based at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, decided to raise the money after Staff Sergeant Peter Smith lost his wife to the disease in November.

Peter, from Seghill, is a civil enforcement officer for North Tyneside Council and has three children Toni, James and Jack.

He says: “My wife Angela was just 44 when she died through renal cancer and it all happened very suddenly.

“As a TA unit we’ve always done what we can to help north east charities and I was touched when Captain Ian Stobbs suggested we raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Angela’s memory.

“I’m proud of my unit. It’s just like them to pull together like this to help other people.”

Peter’s unit underwent gruelling physical challenges known as the ‘triple six’ to raise the money for Sir Bobby’s charity. The ‘triple six’ consists of swimming six 100m lengths of the pool, a 6km bike ride and a six mile forced march with full kit weighing 25 kilos.

Sir Bobby’s son Andrew visited Fenham Barracks to say thank you in person for the D Squadron’s efforts. He says: “It was a real pleasure to meet such committed fund-raisers.

“Having lost dad only last year I can understand what Peter and his family are going through but it must be particularly hard to lose a loved one to cancer so suddenly.

“With so much happening with our armed forces overseas it speaks volumes that these men still have the drive to focus on helping a local charity like this. My family and I are very grateful for this donation and wish them all the very best for the future.”

SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION BUS

Lady Elsie Robson climbed on board Go North East’s X25 bus – which pays tribute to her late husband and former England manager, Sir Bobby Robson - to visit Langley Park Primary School in County Durham.

Go North East service X25 has been given a special livery which features a favourite family photo of Sir Bobby and promotes the work of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which raises money for the early detection and treatment of cancer.

The four, X25 double deck buses run between Langley Park - where Sir Bobby lived as a youngster - and Newcastle city centre and carry details of the Foundation website on the outside of the bus as well as more photos of Sir Bobby and information on his career and the Foundation inside the bus.

Lady Elsie had been invited to travel on the bus by Go North East Managing Director Peter Huntley and saw first hand how the service is helping to spread the message of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as well as boost donations by incorporating the donation website address into its livery.

Arriving at Langley Park Primary School, Lady Elsie and Peter Huntley were treated to a display of footballing skills by members of the young school football team and handed over a cheque for £500 to the team from Go North East’s Community Fund.

“Go North East is well-known for operating some of the most eye-catching buses in the region,” said Peter Huntley, “many designed to provide strong cultural links with the communities they serve. When it came to deciding on a design for service X25, we were honoured that we could commemorate Sir Bobby Robson and reflect the connection he had with the community of Langley Park. Wherever our bus travels, it is helping to encourage people to support the Bobby Robson Foundation.”

Pauline Buglass, head of fund-raising for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, says: "We appreciate Go Ahead choosing to promote the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation on the X25 bus.

"It seems particularly fitting given Sir Bobby's close connections to both Langley Park and Newcastle and will help us to maintain awareness of his charity."

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation operates within the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust to help patients across the north east and Cumbria. It focuses on the early detection and treatment of cancer and the clinical trials of new drugs that will eventually beat it.

The charity was launched in March 2008 and, thanks to tremendous generosity from donors and fund-raisers, has now raised more than £2.4 million to help fight cancer.

WARM UP TO THE WORLD CUP FINAL WITH SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

On Sunday 11th July the world’s best footballers will be playing in the biggest game of their careers when the World Cup final kicks off in South Africa.

Now local footballers have the opportunity to test their own skills on the same day at a charity five-a-side tournament in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Newcastle.

The ‘Robson Fives’ is being organised by Ian Carr and Neil Eddy at SoccerWorld on Westgate Road, Newcastle. The tournament has Junior’s, Men’s and Women’s sections and has already attracted teams from as far away as London.

Within the region, popular football fanzines for Sunderland, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough football clubs - A Love Supreme, True Faith and Fly Me To The Moon – are each entering sides ensuring strong local rivalry and a lively competition.

The Women’s section will be equally strong and Newcastle United Women’s Club and Chelsea Academy Ladies are just two of the teams taking part.

As well as being a fitting curtain raiser to the World Cup final, which will be screened in the bar following the tournament, players will also be helping to raise money for an important local cause.

Organiser Ian Carr, a call centre worker from Gateshead, says: “It seems appropriate to run this tournament on the same day as the World Cup final given how close Sir Bobby came to getting us there in 1990.

“We ran a similar five-a-side competition in aid of his charity last year and raised £535. This year we’re aiming to better that total and enjoy another day of competitive football in aid of a great cause.

“We’ve already attracted more teams and have opened the tournament up to women’s teams too. Newcastle United Women’s Club were one of the first teams to sign up and we appreciate their involvement.”

Thanks to incredible ongoing support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has now raised over £2.4 million to fight cancer for the benefit of patients in the north east and Cumbria.

In addition to equipping the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, the charity has funded a specialist research nurse and doctor and enhanced a children’s waiting area at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care.

It has also contributed £30,000 to the new Teenage Cancer Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and all of these projects benefit cancer patients from across the entire region.

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

Ruth Sutcliffe from Jesmond, vice captain of Newcastle United Women’s Club, says: “My grandma had cancer so sadly, like most people, I’ve had personal experience of the disease.

“We’re proud to support community events like this and we all admire Sir Bobby. As a team we’re keen to do what we can to help his charity to fight cancer in the north east.”

Ian adds: “We’re all looking forward to the Robson Fives and will be making it an occasion for the whole family to enjoy with bouncy castles, face painting, balloons, karaoke and a barbecue. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy World Cup final day and do something to help Sir Bobby’s charity too.”

Anyone who would like to enter a team for any section of the tournament can still do so by calling SoccerWorld on 0191 241 7707 or by visiting www.bobbyrobsontournament-2010.co.uk

VIRGIN MEDIA SUPPORTS SIR BOBBY'S CHARITY

To raise much-needed funds for the fight against cancer, twenty years after Sir Bobby Robson led England to the World Cup semi-finals, Virgin Media has pledged to make a donation to the charity set up in his name every time a visitor to this site watches any video clips.

www.wc2010.virginmedia.com

Virgin Media has pledged to give 20% of the revenue generated from all videos viewed - and if the England team goes one better in 2010 and wins the World Cup, we will give an extra 10% to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

So the more times the video clips are watched on this site, the more money will be given to help in the fight against cancer, an illness which Sir Bobby bravely fought five times.

Sir Bobby's son, Mark Robson, said: "We're very grateful that Virgin Media has offered their support with this tribute to my dad. It's a fantastic way to raise funds to help improve the lives of other people fighting cancer and to make people aware of his charity. The money raised will help fund clinical trials of new cancer drugs, which is something dad was passionate about.

"Italia 90 is remembered as one of the highlights of dad`s career. He was extremely proud to be manager of England and his team's achievements at Italia 90 were unforgettable. It was a very special tournament which inspired so many people in a way only the World Cup can."

‘WHIRLWIND’ SUPPORT FOR THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION...

Snooker legend Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White will be in Newcastle next week to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Jimmy is the guest star at a sell out fund-raising event at Westfield Social Club on Westgate Road in Newcastle. He will be playing a frame of snooker against the highest bidders in an auction to benefit Sir Bobby’s cancer charity.

Jimmy, who has fought cancer himself, says: “For me to be able to help raise some money in Sir Bobby Robson’s name, that’s just fantastic. He was always doing things to help other people and it’s really an honour for me to be able to help out.

“I must have been to Newcastle hundreds of times. I’m a big Chelsea fan and I’ve seen maybe 15 or 20 games at St James’ Park. The atmosphere there is second to none.”

The event on Wednesday 26 May is being organised by Michael Sheldon from Westerhope and the members of the Westfield Snooker Team.

Michael is thrilled at the positive response from local snooker fans and says: “We sold out all 200 tickets for this night in no time at all. Everyone is excited to see Jimmy play at close quarters and a lucky few will also get the chance to match themselves against him.

“It will be a fantastic evening and we’re very proud to help support Sir Bobby’s cancer charity.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation operates within the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust to help patients across the north east and Cumbria. It focuses on the early detection and treatment of cancer and the clinical trials of new drugs that will eventually beat it.

The charity was launched in March 2008 and, thanks to tremendous generosity from donors and fund-raisers, has now raised more than £2.4 million to help fight cancer.

IPSWICH LEGEND MICK MILLS BECOMES SUFFOLK’S PATRON OF THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

Sir Bobby Robson’s cancer charity receives fantastic ongoing support from fans of all of his former clubs – and outside the north east that support is undoubtedly strongest in Suffolk where fans of Ipswich Town continue to raise funds in his name.

Ipswich Town enjoyed a period of incredible success under 13 years of Sir Bobby’s management including winning both the FA and UEFA cups. As well as regular European football, the team finished league runners-up twice - and all this was accomplished relying largely on players brought up through the club’s youth programme.

For a relatively small club, the achievements of Ipswich Town during Sir Bobby’s reign were tremendous and prompted the Football Association to offer Sir Bobby the position of England manager.

In recognition of his influence at Ipswich Town Sir Bobby was honoured with the position of Honorary President and was granted the freedom of the town 30 years after that historic UEFA Cup win.

Now, in turn, Sir Bobby’s family would like to recognise the tremendous support given to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation by Ipswich Town and its fans and is proud to announce Mick Mills MBE, Sir Bobby’s club captain, has agreed to become a patron of the charity.

Lady Elsie Robson says: “When we launched the charity we were overwhelmed at the support and generous donations which flooded in from Suffolk. Bobby often used the word faithful and that is how he described that support.

“It’s touching that he is so well remembered in Suffolk. We enjoyed our time there a great deal and my family and I have very fond memories of Ipswich.

“Given the wonderful and ongoing support Bobby’s charity is receiving from Suffolk we felt it would be appropriate to have a Patron to officially represent the Foundation in the town. We couldn’t think of anyone better to ask than the man who led Bobby’s team to such great successes on the pitch and we were very pleased when Mick kindly agreed to help.

“Mick’s support is greatly appreciated as we continue to raise money to fight this terrible disease.”

After Sir Bobby lost his brave battle with cancer in July last year Ipswich Town named a stand at the club in his name. Lady Elsie and two of Sir Bobby’s sons officially renamed the stand on the day Newcastle United visited Portman Road in September last year and the occasion was also marked by the pre-match appearance of players from Sir Bobby’s legendary Ipswich side.

Both teams ran out special commemorative shirts bearing the logo of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which were then auctioned off in aid of the charity.

Mick says: “Ipswich Town holds a very important chapter in Sir Bobby’s life and it was an honour to be part of the occasion when Newcastle came to Portman Road last September.

“It was very important for Ipswich Town to do something personal to remember Sir Bobby as his contribution to the club was immense. I think they did very well and it was a perfect day although obviously the result went against us. Now we have the Sir Bobby Robson Stand as well as the statue outside Portman Road and they are both very well deserved.

“What I think Bobby would have liked best of all though is the way he has linked these two football clubs. He was a Newcastle United supporter as a boy and you never forget that team. It was so special for him to go on and manage the club and he is a common denominator for fans of both teams.

“I was absolutely delighted to be asked by Sir Bobby’s family to become a patron for his charity. It means a lot to be well thought of by them and it’s nice that even though Bobby has gone I can continue my association with him.

“We both came through difficult times together and working hard with a very talented team went on to reap the rewards. We worked together for a long time as manager and captain and it was without question my most enjoyable period within football.”

Mick’s new role with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation will be made official with a pre-match presentation to fans ahead of the Newcastle United versus Ipswich game on 24 April. This will also be an opportunity for Sir Bobby’s family to say thank you to both clubs and their fans for their tremendous ongoing support for the charity.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has now raised over £2.4 million to fight cancer. Its main focus is the clinical trials of new anti-cancer drugs.

The charity has equipped and partially staffed the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle, which treated 560 patients in its first year. For many of these patients standard cancer treatment is no longer effective and they are prepared to take a chance on something new. Without the Sir Bobby Robson Centre they would probably not have the opportunity to do so.

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

Lady Elsie receives Sir Bobby's FIFA Fair Play Award