Sir Bobby Robson Foundation reaches £5m milestone

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is celebrating its fifth anniversary after raising more than £5m to help detect and treat cancer.

The former England, Newcastle, Ipswich and Barcelona manager set up the research charity in 2008 while he was receiving treatment for the disease.

The initial target was £500,000 and the money is used to try and find ways to improve detection of the disease.

Sir Bobby died in 2009 after his fifth battle against the disease.

His oncologist, Prof Ruth Plummer, said the foundation was set up to raise funds to move cancer treatment and research into a new Northern Centre for Cancer Care, at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.

'Staggering achievement'

Former England captain and patron Alan Shearer said: "Sir Bobby set off to raise £500,000, so for his charity to have raised over £5m is a staggering achievement.

"I'm proud to be a patron and I've been privileged to meet some amazing people through the charity.

"The work the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has funded over the past five years is incredible and really pushing the boundaries of how we detect and treat cancer."

Ex-footballer Niall Quinn, also a patron, said: "I feel privileged to have met Sir Bobby, let alone to have contributed in a small way to his foundation.

"The lesson I have taken from my involvement is that it's not what you have, it's what you leave behind."