Sir Bobby’s Team fundraising for final £1m

Fundraising for the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a world leading cancer drug trials centre for the region, has entered a crucial final phase and the public is being asked for support in raising the last £1m needed.

Funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, construction of the £30m institute began earlier this year on the site of the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.

When completed, it will enable ground-breaking cancer treatment that will directly benefit around 3.5 million people living in the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire, as well as making a global impact.

On Sunday, more people than ever before, almost 150, joined ‘Sir Bobby’s Team’ and undertook the Great North Run to raise funds for the foundation.

The runners, including former Sunderland manager Peter Reid, each have their own personal reasons for fundraising to help construct the new drug trials institute.

Peter, who played for Sir Bobby’s England team 40 years ago at the Mexico ’86 World Cup, visited the site of the institute to celebrate the fundraising milestone and to take part in a very special time capsule ceremony.

He was joined by Sir Bobby’s family, community fundraisers, patients, Professor Ruth Plummer, Sir Paul Ennals and representatives of Robertson Group and Newcastle University.

Items within the time capsule, which will be hidden until at least 2076, include a pair of Peter’s World Cup shorts, an Italia ’90 keyring and an England blazer badge donated by the Robson family and photographs and messages from current clinical trials patients and staff.

Peter says: “It’s amazing that £29m has already been raised to build this institute and I’m really proud to be playing even a small part in raising the last £1m needed.

“Like most people, I’ve had loved ones affected by cancer. Thankfully my daughter Louise’s cervical cancer treatment was successful but that’s why investing in the future of cancer research is so important. We need to make sure we’re always improving.

“It was only recently that we lost my friend Kevin Keegan to the disease, so anything that can help change those outcomes is something we should all be backing.”

Built by Newcastle Hospitals and funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the Sir Bobby Robson Institute will be completed next year.

The building will increase the number of cancer clinical trials taking place in Newcastle and will bring together world-leading researchers, clinicians and cutting-edge technology under one roof, accelerating breakthroughs in cancer treatment, increasing access to clinical trials and ensuring more patients across the region and beyond can benefit from pioneering treatments.

Mark Robson says: “This final phase of fundraising is absolutely vital to us and we’re asking anyone who has been affected by cancer to join what my Dad called his “last and greatest team,” and help us get us over the line by raising the final £1m we need.

“Whether you’ve had a family member, friend, partner or colleague with cancer, or lost someone dear to you, this is an opportunity to really change the game in terms of research into the disease.

“I know many people who fundraise for us are inspired by my Dad’s life and his determination to succeed. Whatever the motivation, we’re looking for even more people to join ‘Sir Bobby’s Team’ and help us get over the line.

“There are so many ways to get involved with community fundraising and every contribution helps us fund pioneering cancer research that will give hope to patients and families affected by cancer now and in the future.”

Full list of items contained within the Sir Bobby Robson Institute time capsule:

1. Keyring memento of ‘Ciao’, the Italia ‘90 World Cup mascot and one of Sir Bobby’s England blazer badges from the Robson family
2. Shorts from the Mexico ‘86 World Cup donated by Peter Reid
3. Clinical paper on, and an empty bottle of, Rucaparib, the ‘Geordie’ cancer drug developed by Newcastle University chemists with its first trials at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Research Trials Centre
4. Photographs of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials teams with personal messages of hope for the Sir Bobby Robson Institute
5. Sir Bobby’s autobiography
6. Messages from current Newcastle Hospitals’ clinical trials patients and their families
7. A signed World Cup 2026 photograph from Newcastle United’s Dan Burn
8. Miniature model of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute from Derek Shepherd, P+HS Architects
9. Medal from the AJ Bell Great North Run 2026
10. AJ Bell Great North Run 2026 Sir Bobby Robson Foundation T-shirt worn by ‘Sir Bobby’s Team’
11. Sir Bobby Robson Institute campaign pin badge
12. A stethoscope, lab coat, lanyards and tote bag from Newcastle University, and a photo showing Newcastle University’s School of Medicine MBBS Graduating Class 2026

For more information about the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, please visit: www.sirbobbysgreatestteam.co.uk.