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Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has agreed to become Teesside patron of north east cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The charity benefits cancer patients from across the entire north east region and Steve has agreed to become its official representative in Teesside.
Sir Bobby Robson achieved incredible success at home and abroad during a football career that lasted more than 50 years and took him almost as far as a World Cup Final. The former England player and manager began his professional football life at Fulham Football Club but it could so easily have begun on Teesside when he had a trial with Middlesbrough in 1948. Sadly for Sir Bobby his trial was unsuccessful, and Middlesbrough’s loss was Fulham’s gain on that occasion, but he always maintained a great regard for the club.
In his later years, Sir Bobby visited Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson at the club’s training ground and was a regular visitor to watch matches at the Riverside Stadium. It is therefore appropriate that Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie, should call upon Steve to represent Sir Bobby and to help continue the work of his cancer charity.
Following a request from Lady Elsie, Steve has agreed to become the Teesside Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation - further cementing the support the charity has received from the club and its supporters. Lady Elsie says: “My family and I are committed to continuing the work Bobby began though his Foundation and Steve agreeing to help by becoming our Teesside Patron means a great deal to us.
“Bobby thought very highly of Steve and the set up at Middlesbrough Football Club and I’m sure he would approve of his involvement in his charity. We’re very grateful to Steve for formally representing the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as a Patron and for helping us to raise money to fight this terrible disease.”
Steve Gibson joins Alan Shearer as a Patron of the charity, which Sir Bobby launched in March 2008 following a request for help from his oncologist Professor Ruth Plummer. So that it could be quickly and easily set up, the Foundation operates within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity. However, every penny raised for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation contributes to cancer services and projects which benefit patients from the entire north east region.
Thanks to incredible ongoing support, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has now raised over £2.2 million to fight cancer.
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 also recently contributed £30,000 to the new Teenage Cancer Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
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 for the benefit of patients from across the north east. These services include the clinical trials of drugs which are at such an early phase in their development that they are not yet licensed by the NHS.
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.
