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ENCORE FOR HUGELY POPULAR CELEBRITY GOLF DAY

20 February 2012

The inaugural Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Celebrity Golf Day, held last April at Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, was hugely popular, uniting north east football in the fight against cancer and prompting immediate calls for a repeat.

The second Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Celebrity Golf Day, in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, will be held this year on 2nd May and the venue is once again five-star Rockliffe Hall.

Last year’s very high profile event was supported by Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patrons including Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, Sunderland AFC legend Niall Quinn and Sir Bobby’s Ipswich Town captain Mick Mills.

It was also generously supported by Hartlepool United, Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Middlesbrough football clubs, which all entered teams into the golf tournament that included players, former players and management.

The unparalleled line up of football celebrities created a very special atmosphere of unity before and after the golf and ensured strong competition out on the course.

The late Gary Speed, an enthusiastic supporter of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, also attended the inaugural Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Celebrity Golf day and will be a great miss this year.

Lady Elsie says: “My husband thoroughly enjoyed playing golf and nothing would have given him greater pleasure than to see so many good friends from within football coming together like they did at Rockliffe Hall last year.

“It was an absolutely wonderful day in glorious sunshine and we’re extremely pleased that it is going ahead once again. Alan Shearer and Niall Quinn have kindly agreed to play and we’re receiving great support once again from Steve Gibson.

“We are all looking forward to another very special day at Rockliffe Hall raising funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

In addition to the charity’s Patrons, footballers, former players, executives, managers and coaching staff involved in the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Celebrity Golf Day last year included Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley, Lee Cattermole, Craig Gordon, Michael Turner and Steve Bruce.

Middlesbrough FC was represented by Matthew Bates, Andrew Taylor, Jason Steele and Adam Johnson - who travelled from Manchester to take part.

Hartlepool United’s team comprised Mick Wadsworth, Micky Barron, Ritchie Humphreys and Russ Green and Leeds United’s was made up of Alex Bruce, Billy Paynter, Paul Connolly and Ross McCormack.

In addition, Newcastle United was represented by Mick Martin, John Beresford, Alan Pardew, John Carver, Steve Stone, Andy Woodman, Ryan Taylor, Alan Smith, Shefki Kuqi, Shola Ameobi, James Perch, Tim Krul, Peter Lovenkrands, Steven Taylor, Steve Harper and Joey Barton.

Teams for the 2012 Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Celebrity Golf Day cost £545 and consist of four amateurs, or three amateurs plus a celebrity who is provided. The day includes a full buffet breakfast, 18 holes, drinks reception, dinner crafted by Rockliffe Hall’s Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson, a very special auction and evening entertainment.

Alternatively, strictly limited numbers of tables for the evening drinks reception and dinner only are available.

Teams, dinner tables and sponsorship opportunities, including a golf hole, hole in one, nearest the pin and on course refreshments, are available now. For further information please email karen@connectvips.com or call 07782 109 758 or 0191 251 2222.

NE FOOTBALL WRITERS SUPPORT AND HONOURS

07 February 2012

On Sunday night, the region’s football community came together to celebrate the very best of the 2010/2011 football season and to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Sponsored by Barclays, the 2011 North East Football Writers' Association awards dinner at Ramside Hall in Durham is a regular highlight in the region’s football calendar and this year was no exception.

The event was attended by players, managers, directors and officials from all of the north east football clubs including Alan Pardew and Tony Mowbray. It was also supported by Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, who is a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Hosted by BBC Radio 5 Lives’ Ian Dennis, entertainment was provided by popular local comedian Josh Daniels who faced stiff competition on the laughs front from Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott.

Middlesbrough's Joe Bennett was named Young Player of the Year and there were special awards for Whitley Bay FC, Carlisle United, Hartlepool’s Ritchie Humphreys and Darlington manager Craig Liddle.

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini was crowned Player of the Year, and said: “I was very pleased to receive the award, following in the footsteps of such Newcastle greats as Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer and Shay Given.

"I would like to thank everyone who voted for me, it really was a great honour for me.

"Coming on the back of a good win for us against Aston Villa, it made for a tremendous day for me, and I want to share this with my family, teammates, everyone at the Club and the fans."

The event was originally due to be held on 27th November and was postponed following the sudden death of former Newcastle United and Wales footballer Gary Speed. Warm tributes were paid to Gary and also to Sunderland Echo journalist Ian Laws who died recently aged just 41.

This is the third year the North East Football Writers' Association has supported the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and this year, for the first time, the Association and the charity jointly made an award to honour one of the region’s most respected football professionals.

The inaugural North East Football Writers' Association’s Personality of the Year, in association with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, was awarded to Sunderland AFC’s Niall Quinn in recognition of his five years as the club's chairman and his wider contribution to the local community.

Niall was unable to attend and sent an appreciative video message, while the award was collected on his behalf by Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup hero Jimmy Montgomery.

Colin Young, representing the North East Football Writers' Association, said: "We're really proud of our association with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Not only was Sir Bobby a great communicator, he was a man held in esteem by the whole of our region and beyond and that's the essence of our dinner - that local rivalry gets put to one side as we celebrate the best of each other and ourselves.

"The fact that the Foundation is raising money which directly helps cancer patients from across the whole of the North East and Cumbria is another reason why the partnership is a perfect fit.

“We're honoured that Lady Elsie and her family agreed to support our Personality of the Year award and hope that we've established a new tradition in keeping with what's always a great night."

SUPPORT FROM NORTH EAST FOOTBALL WRITERS

05 February 2012

On Sunday (5th February) local rivalries will be put to one side as the region’s football community comes together to celebrate the very best of the 2010/2011 football season.

Sponsored by Barclays, the 2011 North East Football Writers' Association awards dinner at Ramside Hall in Durham is a regular highlight in the region’s football calendar. It will be attended by a star-studded guest list, which includes players, managers, directors and officials from all of the north east football clubs.

The event was originally due to be held on 27th November and was postponed following the tragic death of former Newcastle United and Wales footballer Gary Speed.

Tributes will be paid to Gary during the evening and the event will raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a charity he strongly supported.

“Everyone was devastated by the news about Gary. There was simply no way we could go ahead with the event in November." Colin Young, representing the North East Football Writers' Association said.

“He was someone my colleagues and I had a great deal of respect for because of the way he conducted himself on and off the field.

“Many of the guests and journalists at the awards knew Gary personally and this is an ideal occasion to pay tribute to a real football man who is greatly missed.”

This is the third year the North East Football Writers' Association has supported the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and this year, for the first time, the Association and the charity will be jointly making an award to honour one of the region’s most respected football professionals.

The inaugural North East Football Writers' Association’s Personality of the Year, in association with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, will be presented to Sunderland AFC’s Niall Quinn in recognition of his five years as the club's chairman and his wider contribution to the local community.

Lady Elsie Robson was particularly pleased to agree the nomination given Niall’s role as a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and his close links with her husband.

Commenting on Niall receiving the new award, Lady Elsie said: “My family and I are very proud that the inaugural Personality of the Year is not only going to a great football man, but also to a man who represents our charity so magnificently.

“He truly does maintain the same kind of football and community ethos as my husband.

“After we lost my husband, my family and I realised we needed support from Patrons who could help us continue the important work of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Niall was one of the very first people I thought to ask for help.

“I know Bob would have approved whole-heartedly of Niall’s involvement with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and we’re very grateful for his ongoing support.

“As everyone knows, my husband was a Newcastle United fan but he loved to visit the Stadium of Light. He was always very well looked after by Niall and they had a wonderful relationship based on mutual respect.

“Niall has represented Sunderland AFC as chairman with great dignity. His positive influence has extended far into the community and we wish him very well in his new role with the club.”

Newcastle United and England legend Alan Shearer, also a Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, will be supporting the awards evening, when Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini will be crowned Player of the Year. There are also awards for, amongst others, Middlesbrough's Joe Bennett and Whitley Bay FC.

Colin Young added: "We're really proud of our links to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and we're thrilled that Lady Elsie and the charity have given their blessing to our new Personality of the Year award in Sir Bobby's memory."

"Our annual dinner is about the region's football clubs and their supporters joining together in harmony and friendship to celebrate the best of each other. There's no better symbol for that than Sir Bobby, who was universally respected, nor his Foundation, which benefits people right across the region. We think Niall is an appropriate and deserving winner."

MONSTER ROCK CHALLENGE FOR SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

26 January 2012

A mighty challenge entitled Monsters of Rock is being laid before fans of North East rock music.

The marathon gig of nine straight hours of live music will feature 10 bands ranging from popular up and coming acts to well known names on the regional rock circuit. They will be playing a raucous mix of original material and cover versions at Shildon Civic Hall on Saturday 25th February.

The event is in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and is being organised by musician Russ Tippins in memory of live music enthusiast Ronnie Patchett - the man Russ describes as having been the 'constant face in the crowd.’

Russ explains: “I had the idea for this tribute on the day of Ronnie’s funeral. He used to say to me 'I wonder what kind of gigs there’ll be after I’m gone’ and I wanted to do something in his memory and which would also help other people fighting cancer.

“He was a huge supporter of live music and Ronnie and his wife Sue were practically permanent fixtures at any rock gig locally. We’re holding this event on the first anniversary of the day we lost him as a tribute.

“The bands will appeal to anyone one enjoys live rock music and we’re laying down a challenge to true rock enthusiasts to support us for the full nine hours. There’s a bar and diner at the hall to help fuel those brave enough to attempt it.”

Ronnie Patchett, from Ferryhill, worked for the Coal Board for many years and died from bowel cancer aged just 54. He was diagnosed in November 2009 and was given the opportunity to trial a new drug at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.

As well as being a great fan of live music Ronnie also enjoyed spending time outdoors and was very active in his local community, becoming a school governor as well as a Councillor for Ferryhill and later for the Borough of Sedgefield.

Ronnie’s wife of 34 years, Sue, and daughter Amy will be attending the Monsters of Rock, while son Marc will be taking an active role in proceedings by opening the event with his band Guards of Eden.

Sue is looking forward to the event and believes it will be an emotional occasion for everyone who knew Ronnie.

Sue says: “It’s very hard for us all without Ronnie. He had two young granddaughters and we’d just started taking long haul holidays and visited India, China and Brazil. It was like the next part of his life had begun and Russ had even inspired him to learn to play guitar.

“He’d just begun to spread his wings and when we had the cancer diagnosis it was a terrible blow. It was too late to try standard cancer treatment so we leapt at the chance to try a new drug through the Sir Bobby Robson Centre.

“He was only 54 when he died but he packed an awful lot into those 54 years. He was full of life and an inspiration to his family.

“When Russ explained what he wanted to do to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation I thought it was a very appropriate way to remember Ronnie.

“He received excellent care at the Sir Bobby Centre and found the staff there really supportive.

“The Monsters of Rock event will be a great occasion for rock music fans and I know Ronnie would’ve loved it.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was launched by Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie in March 2008 to help find more effective treatments for cancer including the clinical trials of new drugs within the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Over 1,000 patients have been treated on clinical trials since the Sir Bobby Robson Centre opened in February 2009 and an additional 1,000 patients have been enrolled in other research studies, studying the biology and genetics of cancer to help develop and improve treatments.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria and contribute significantly into wider research into the disease.

It has equipped the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and funded a specialist clinical research nurse and research doctor within it.

Most recently the Foundation made a record contribution of £625,000 to fund an ultra-compact ABT Molecular Imaging Biomarker Generator, which is only the second of its type in the world and the first in Europe. The Biomarker Generator uses radioactive tracers to help with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and will be installed and ready to treat patients by the summer.

Monsters of Rock is taking place on Saturday 25th February at Shildon Civic Hall and will include a raffle and auction. It will feature The Force, Black Rose, Sabbatica, The Russ Tippins Electric Band, The Last Fakers, The Karma Heart, Presence, Big River, Guards of Eden and The Silence.

Doors open 2.30pm and close at 12.30am. Tickets cost £10 and are available in advance from the venue and online at www.ronington.co.uk.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU FROM EVERYBODY AT THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION

23 December 2011

By Tom Chaplin, Writer in Residence

I'll be honest - I'd never seen or even heard of a Biomarker Generator or an ultra compact cyclotron as it is sometimes known, and I certainly didn't know how they work! I didn't know its complex radioactive shield weighed a colossal nine tonnes and I wasn't aware that buying and installing one would cost you the best part of £1.2m.

But this Christmas the Foundation are getting ready to unwrap a pretty special Christmas present to itself and its partners working in cancer care in the North East and Cumbria. This piece of truly cutting edge, specialist equipment will benefit many fighting cancer and amazingly is only the second of its type in the world and the first in Europe.

With its largest single investment to date the Foundation was able to contribute £625,000 to the purchase of the machine with a further, equally large contribution coming from Newcastle University.

The Foundation's contribution was only possible as a result of the hard work, generosity, passion and courage of patients, their families, fundraisers and supporters and it is to you that we would like to say thank you and wish you a very special, merry Christmas.

Sir Bobby's family and everyone connected to the Foundation is and always has been moved by the lengths fundraisers young and old are prepared to go to: from cake sales to Charity Balls, Great North runners to fancy dress days, you do a wonderful job and make us all so proud. Please, keep doing what you are doing - it is truly remarkable, incredibly worthwhile and very very much appreciated.

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!