Sir Bobby Robson is asking for support from the football community in his new battle to beat cancer.

The 75-year-old former England manager aims to reach a new goal - to tackle cancer by raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

He decided to launch the charity when Dr Ruth Plummer, the oncologist treating him as he fights cancer for a fifth time, asked for contacts that could help raise money to equip a new Cancer Trials Research Centre.

He knows the benefits of early detection and quality care and is now raising money to help ensure the quarter of a million people in the UK who are diagnosed with cancer this year are as lucky as he has been.

Sir Bobby tells www.barnetfc.com: "Given that I've battled cancer five times in the last 15 years it may sound strange to say that I've been lucky. But I know how important it is to detect this disease as early as possible and without the quality care and treatment I've had over the years I wouldn't be here today.

"Ruth Plummer has helped save my life so when she asked me to help out in such a small way I couldn't possibly refuse her. My wife and I agreed that we should do much more than just supply contact names and decided to launch the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation."

The Foundation will initially focus on the early detection and treatment of cancer and will also help support clinical trials of promising new treatments to tackle the disease. Its first goal is to raise the money urgently required to set up The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Sir Bobby added: "I'm extremely proud that The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre will carry my name and we need to raise £500,000 before June to have it up and running by October.

"It's difficult to ask for money but I know how passionate and generous football fans are and I believe by pulling together we can all help the experts beat this disease. One in every three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives but if, and when, the clinical drug trials are successful, then the positive impact could be felt around the world."

To make a donation to The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk or send a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG.

All donors will receive a personalised certificate and a letter of thanks from Sir Bobby and once the Foundation has raised sufficient funds to set up the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, all additional money will go towards cancer related projects in the North East.


Dennis Signy