Sir Bobby’s team works wonders
CHARITY MARKS ITS 10-YEAR MILESTONE WITH PARTY
NORTH East celebrities joined hardworking fundraisers from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to celebrate an incredible milestone.
World Cup hero Jack Charlton, actor Stephen Tompkinson and Lindisfarne legend Ray Laidlaw were among the people who congratulated the charity on its 10th anniversary.
The foundation was launched by Sir Bobby in 2008 to help in the fight against cancer and aimed to raise £500,000.
But, after a decade of dedicated fundraising, the charity has gone on to raise more than £12m.
And yesterday, Lady Elsie and her son Mark Robson celebrated the special occasion with an informal get-together with fundraisers and supporters at the Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle.
Mr Robson said: “I wish dad was here today. He would be enormously proud of our fundraisers. To help the people that we do, people affected by cancer, it’s heart-warming.
“Here we are, 10 years on and we’ve reached £12m and that’s only because of the fantastic support we’re so lucky to receive.
“When dad passed away about a year and half after launching the foundation, we thought that it might just fade away a bit. We weren’t really sure about things.
“But we kept going and it’s just kept on at the same run rate. It’s incredible and it’s all thanks to our fundraisers. I’m sad that he’s not here but he’s left a wonderful legacy and that makes me proud.”
Over the last 10 years, the charity has funded cancer treatment and support services that directly benefit patients from across the North East and Cumbria. It is also playing a significant role in international efforts against the disease.
Sir Bobby described his charity as his “last and greatest team”. He had no idea how large his team would grow, or how much it would achieve.
Working within the NHS, the foundation’s aim is to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer and it does that by working in partnership with other leading charities and organisations.
As a fund within the Newcastle Hospitals NHS charity, it does not employ professional fundraisers to proactively raise money, and relies on third-party volunteer fundraisers and the generosity of the public.
For more information, visit www. sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk