What The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation does
The foundation is part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity who work with the Robson family and thousands of dedicated supporters to fund major pieces of equipment, national cancer initiatives and major studies into cancer.
We also fund specialist cancer posts in areas such as the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer Unit at the Great North Children’s Hospital and at The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at The Freeman Hospital, a world-leading centre for clinical trials of new drugs.
All donated funds benefit cancer patients in the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire and play a significant role in international efforts against the disease – funding cutting-edge cancer treatment and innovative cancer support services.
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 go on to achieve.
It brings together all the clinical research staff who are working to improve cancer treatments into one purpose-built unit with a clinical treatment area, laboratory space for blood sample handling and offices for data collection and drug safety reporting.
The Centre offers patients access to early trials and potential new treatments and works closely with the Imaging Research Centre to improve diagnosis and study the effects of new drugs.
Often these are ‘first in human’ trials and the Centre’s dedicated staff also coordinate trials of drugs at later stages of development, working with the National Cancer Networks to ensure patients get offered the best options for treatment.
Every patient who goes on an experimental trial in the Sir Bobby Centre has terminal cancer and knows that standard treatment will not prove effective for them.
In some cases, patients are aware from the outset that the treatment they receive in the Centre will not benefit them at all – but that the information gained from their participation will help someone else facing cancer in the future. They are, as Sir Bobby put it, “utterly selfless and brave.”
Read moreThe Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Centre
Constructed by the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the Northern Institute for Cancer Research and Newcastle University, the Sir Bobby Robson Centre is at the forefront of research into cancer.
The centre is led by Professor Ruth Plummer MBE (pictured with Sir Bobby), NHS National Clinical Lead for Cancer Drugs and some of the UK’s top cancer specialists, in collaboration with Newcastle University.
As a result of these trials, life-extending treatments have already been rolled out globally, with more in the pipeline. Cancer trials change treatment and save lives, providing hope for patients who have exhausted existing options.
Read moreHistory of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
From its launch in 2008 The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation had one clear ambition - Let's Tackle Cancer.-
Sir Bobby Robson Foundation founded
2008
- 25 March – Launch of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, created to initially raise £500,000 to help fund equipment
- 9 May – Fundraising dinner at St James’ Park with many high-profile guests
- 6 August – Official presentation of £500,000 from Sir Bobby to Professor Ruth Plummer, his oncologist
-
Sir Bobby Centre opens three months before he dies
2009- 20 Feb – Official opening of the Sir Bobby Centre
- 26 July – Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match at St James’ Park
- 31 July – Sir Bobby’s death followed by 11 days of tributes paid at St James’ Park
- 15 Oct – Alan Shearer announced as a Patron
- 27 Nov – shirts left in tribute to Sir Bobby following his death sent to charities in Africa and Eastern Europe
-
Foundation Patrons announced
2010- 24 April – Mick Mills announced as a Patron on St James’ Park pitch.
- 13 Feb – Steve Gibson announced as a Patron at the Riverside
- 19 Feb – 1st anniversary of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre
- 16 May – charity football match at the Riverside, Middlesbrough
- 16 Sept – BBC Radio 5 live broadcast Gabby Logan’s afternoon show live from the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre
- 5 Nov – Niall Quinn announced as a Patron at Stadium of Light
- 29 Nov – SBRF and Newcastle University collaborate and announce £500,000 investment into new cancer research equipment
-
Sir Bobby statue unveiled at St James' Park
2011- 29 March – Lady Elsie and Alan Shearer name East Coast train Sir Bobby Robson
- 6 May – Sir Bobby’s statue unveiled at St James’ Park
- 27 April – Rockliffe Celeb Golf Day, Alan Shearer, Niall Quinn, NUFC, SAFC and more
- 10 May – Cramlington Darts fundraiser, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Colocinni
- 23 May – opening of SBR’s Memorial Garden, Gallowgate
- 11 Oct – Joe McElderry and Alan Shearer help announce Sir Bobby Robson: A Celebration event
- 20 Oct – Breakthrough Ball Ipswich – Lady Elsie, Delia Smith
-
Henry Winter swims the Tyne to raise funds
2012- 5 Feb – Niall Quinn wins inaugural NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 5 March – Lady Elsie names Port of Tyne boat Sir Bobby Robson
- 23 April – Shola Ameobi and Steve Harper visit Langley Park Primary School, Sir Bobby’s old school
- 7 Sept – Henry Winter swims the Tyne
- 12 Sept – opening of the PET Tracer Production Unit (part SBRF funded) at Newcastle University
- 11 Nov – Bike For Bobby finishes at St James’ Park – Lady Elsie, Robbie Elliott, Phil Gray
-
Steve Harmison nominates SBRF for benefit year
2013
- 24 Jan – Foundation named as Steve Harmison’s Durham CCC benefit year charity
- 18 Feb – Sir Bobby Robson a Celebration. What would have been Sir Bobby’s 80th birthday and to mark the occasion a group of experienced music industry professionals volunteered their time to organise a night in tribute to him at The Sage
- 26 July – Three Days for Bobby cyclists stop off at the Angel
- 9 Oct – Steve Harper presents cheque for money raised during his benefit match
-
Radiotherapy suite part funded by SBRF
2014- 25 July – President’s Cup match at Tow Law – Lady Elsie (President of Tow Law)
- 7 Oct – opening of Stereotactic Radiotherapy Suite at NCCC (part SBRF funded)
-
Widnes Vikings raise £20,000 for SBRF
2015- 22 Feb – auction of John Alder’s (victim of MH17) match programme collection at St James’ Park
- 25 March – Spice Girl Mel C supports Widnes Vikings’ Magic Weekend fundraising
-
Rafa visits the Sir Bobby Centre
2016- 8 Nov – NUFC manager Rafa Benitez visits the Sir Bobby Centre
- 25 Oct – Lady Elsie visits South Shields Fire Station to meet with Scott Hope, brother of Lee Hope (linked to Hike 4 Hopey fundraising)
-
Steve Harper announced as SBRF Patron
2017- 12 Feb – Steve Harper wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 29 April – Hike 4 Hopey walking challenge arrives at St James’ Park
- 20 May – Int Clinical Trials Day marked with an open day at the Sir Bobby Centre
- 5 Sept – Steve Harper announced as Patron
- 28 Sept – new SBRF (cancer linked) ophthalmology equipment (featuring tech used by NASA) unveiled
- 22 Nov – Prospect NE announcement at the RVI, cutting edge cancer treatment funded by the SBRF – Lady Elsie, Alan Shearer, Steve Harper
-
More Than a Manager film has its premier
2018- 25 Jan – Row the Tyne – large scale static row (team event/row the length of the Tyne) at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
- 22 May – More Than A Manager premiered at St James’ Park – Steve Harper and more
- 24 May – More Than A Manager shown at Wembley – Terry Butcher
- 25 May – Martyn Haughan, friends and family set off on Clock to Clock challenge (Penrith to London bike ride)
- 29 June More Than A Manager shown at Redhills, Durham – Olivier Bernard, Charlie Woods, Lady Elsie
- 7 July – Lady Elsie officially starts A Walk For Sir Bobby
- 10 Dec – opening of SBRF-funded Complementary Therapy Suite at NCCC
-
£1m funding for COLO-SPEED announced
2019- 2 Feb – Sid’s Tours (SAFC supporters) present cheque for fundraising to Lady Elsie at Stadium of Light
- 17 Feb – Alan Shearer wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 15 March – announcement of SBRF funding for the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Design Team, Ncl Uni – Lady Elsie
- 11 June – announcement of £1m COLO-SPEED bowel cancer project funded by SBRF – Lady Elsie
- 12 July – Prof Ruth Plummer officially starts A Walk For Sir Bobby
-
David Ginola visits Sir Bobby Unit
2020- 31 Jan – David Ginola visits Sir Bobby Unit with Lady Elsie
- 23 Feb – Steph Houghton wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 10 July – Keith Farquharson (an SBRU patient) completes virtual Tour De France ride – Lady Elsie
-
Live Forever Cup in Oz
2021- 23 Feb – Luke O’Nien announced (virtually) NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 18 June – annual Kevin Outhwaite Golf Day, Ramside – Lady Elsie, Kevin Philips
- 21 July – continuation of Complementary Therapy funding announced
- 1 Oct – 10 years of Northumbrian Water bike ride IMO Mick Clark
- 21 Sept – Live Forever Cup charity football match for SBRF, Australia
-
Prof Ruth Plummer awarded an MBE
2022- 6 March – Chris Kamara wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 1 June – Prof Ruth Plummer awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Jubilee birthday honours list for services to Medicine
- 27 July – 10th Three Days for Bobby ride sets off from St James’ Park – Steve Harper
-
Sir Bobby's birthday celebrated at St James'
2023- 18 Feb – what would have been Sir Bobby’s 90th birthday celebrated with Bobby 90 celebration before NUFC v Liverpool – Wor Flags
- 5 March – Jill Scott wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- March – April – fundraisers complete Ibiza, Tokyo, Barcelona and Manchester Marathons
- 20 May – International Clinical Trials Day focus on SBRF funded (since 2021) posts within the SBRU (Selina Richards, an occupational therapist and Robynne Penny, a dietician)
-
Gareth Southgate tours the Sir Bobby Unit
2024
- 4 March – Gary Bennett wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 29 April – Gareth Southgate (then England manager) visits SBRU
- 28 June – Golf clubs raise money for SBRF (inc Alnwick Castle Golf and South Moor Golf Club)
-
Planning permission granted or The Bobby Robson Institute
2025- 3 March – Dan Burn wins NE Football Writers’ Personality of the Year Award, in Association with the SBRF
- 12 Sept – Biscuit Factory preview event unveils Kevin Day en plein air NUFC trophy parade painting for SBRF
- 21 Sept – Live Forever Cup Newcastle – Lee Clark
- 31 Dec – Hogman Howay 5K in Newcastle
- 12 Dec – SBRI planning permission granted
-
Sir Bobby Robson Institute groundbreaking
2026
- 17 April – SBRF named as charity partner for Dragon Boat Race and Great North Run
- 21 April – The Robson family, major donors and hospital staff break ground at the site of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute
The Sir Bobby Robson Institute
Newcastle Hospitals Charity are launching our largest ever fundraising project, to raise funds to build a £30m centre at the Freeman Hospital dedicated to cancer research in Sir Bobby’s name.
The Sir Bobby Robson Institute will be a three-storey centre of excellence for early and late-phase cancer trials for the people of the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Building will start in Spring 2026 with new facility opening in 2028.
Read more