Community Shield donation helps charity reach milestone.
Today saw former England captain Alan Shearer announced as a patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation – and with The FA’s recent £90,000 donation, he was able to announce that the charity has now raised over £2 million to fight cancer.
With a percentage of the gate receipts for August’s FA Community Shield at Wembley being pledged to the Foundation, Shearer was delighted to reveal this whilst being formally welcomed to his new role by Sir Bobby’s widow Lady Elsie and sons Paul, Andrew and Mark, who made the request for help following Sir Bobby’s death in July.
“It was a huge honour for me to be asked by Sir Bobby’s family to join his charity as patron and I was very happy to accept,” said Shearer.
“Bobby’s death left a gaping hole in football and within the north east as a region. He’s a man I admired greatly and I know I’ll continue to miss him in the coming years.
“He is completely irreplaceable and the esteem he was held in became very apparent after he passed away. The outpouring of affection and respect for him was phenomenal and it’s not something we are likely to see again.”
The Foundation’s initial target of £500,000, required to equip a cancer trials research centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, was reached just weeks after the charity launch and the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre opened in February this year to treat patients from across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. It offers patients access to early trials and potential new treatments and is at the forefront of the fight against cancer.
In February, at the launch of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, The FA also donated £75,000 to the charity, which was delivered in person by England Manager Fabio Capello.
Alan added: “Sadly, nobody goes through their lives unaffected by cancer and I’m proud that there are experts working towards a cure for the disease here in the North East.
“I was there at the launch of the Sir Bobby Cancer Trials Research Centre and it was a very moving occasion. Bobby was, quite rightly, incredibly proud of what his charity had achieved and I’m just as proud now to be asked to help carry on his fight against cancer.”
Lady Elsie said: “Speaking for both my family and the charity we’re extremely happy and grateful that Alan has agreed to become a patron for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. We know how much effort he already puts into charitable work and it’s no small thing to agree a commitment to another good cause.
“Giving the experts the tools to fight against cancer is the legacy Bobby wanted to leave behind and thanks to Alan’s help we know that legacy will continue to grow.
“Bobby would have whole-heartedly approved of Alan’s patronage. The two of them had great mutual respect and his involvement feels very appropriate.”
To make a donation, view messages of support, or for more information on The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, please visit
www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG.
