Newcastle United heroes from Les Ferdinand to Steve Harper are backing the "final push" to raise the remaining £500,000 needed to fund the pioneering new cancer trials centre at the Freeman Hospital, which will be named in honour of manager Sir Bobby Robson.
The stars turned out alongside counterparts from other areas of the North East, such as Kevin Ball, for a screening of the Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager documentary at the Tyneside Cinema. Broadcaster Justin Lockwood led a discussion with Sir Bobby's former players Shola Ameobi and Steve Harper, while Match of the Day's Gabby Logan also showed her support.
Work on the £30m facility
Work on the new £30m facility started in April and is expected to be complete by the end of next year. The idea is to create a world-leading centre that expands capacity for cancer clinical trials by 50% and serves the whole of the region.
Backers have helped the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation - a fund part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity - to close in on the huge sum needed. Teri Bayliss, director of the charity, said they had been "overwhelmed" by support from the sporting world.
Teri said: "We're so grateful to Shola and Gabby for giving their time and energy to this campaign. We have been overwhelmed with support from the sporting world - the love and respect for Sir Bobby is so strong.
"His mission to help tackle cancer resonates with every one of us so we're excited to hear from the public as they raise funds for this final, critical phase."
Fundraising progress and time capsule
Fundraising for the centre is moving apace. Last month, following the Great North Run - where the biggest ever Sir Bobby Robson Foundation contingent took to the course - key figures revealed the £30m target was in sight and just £1m was needed.
At that stage, a moving time capsule was planted amid the construction work - including memorabilia such as World Cup-worn shorts from former England player and Sunderland boss Peter Reid. Also in that time capsule were examples of the life-saving cancer innovations created and developed thanks to the existing Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.
This included an empty bottle of the "Geordie cancer drug" Rucaparib. The time capsule also contained moving messages from the staff working at the existing centre at the Freeman. One read: "There is light at the end of the tunnel. And this IS the tunnel."
Work began on the centre in April, and it is expected to open in 2027. For more information about the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, visit: www.sirbobbysgreatestteam.co.uk.
