Rafa visits Sir Bobby Cancer Research Centre

Patients and staff at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle welcomed Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez when he arrived for a tour around the facilities.

Rafa Benitez was invited to the centre, at the Freeman Hospital’s Northern Centre for Cancer Care, by Lady Elsie Robson to find out more about the work of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Sir Bobby launched his charity in 2008 and it has gone on to raise over £10 million for cancer research. The work benefits cancer patients in the North East and Cumbria. Research includes clinical trials of early phase cancer drugs.

In March 2008, despite being ill with cancer for the fifth time, Sir Bobby launched his charity with an initial aim to raise £500,000 to equip the drug trials centre. He was well enough to officially open what became the Sir Bobby Robson Centre in February of the following year. Newcastle United legends Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley were guests that day along with Fabio Capello.

Access to the Sir Bobby Robson Centre is via ‘The Football Corridor’, with images of both Sir Bobby’s career and football clubs from across the region.Position123456789reorder

Working within the NHS, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation does not employ professional fundraisers to proactively raise money and relies completely on third party, volunteer fundraisers and the incredible generosity of the general public.

Most recently, the charity made a £1million contribution to fund clinical research and nursing posts at the new Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre at Newcastle University.

The new centre focuses on developing therapies with fewer side effects and treatment for children with advanced cancer, or for those whose illness has come back.