Above: The Chester-Le-Street United Wolves under-11s team
A team of young footballers and their families have come together to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, after one of their own very sadly lost a parent to cancer.
Paul Smith (pictured below) passed away in January 2023. A much-loved father of Tom (10) and Lily (12), and husband to Claire, his loss was widely mourned in his community.
Touchingly, Tom’s football team, Chester-Le-Street United Wolves under-11s, came together to donate to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Paul’s memory. They also held a minute of silence.
Together, the team contributed £175.00 to the funds raised, with additional donations at Paul’s funeral service bringing the total raised for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to more than £1,760.00.
The Foundation, which is part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, came to the attention of the Smith family when Paul underwent care at the Sir Bobby Robson Clinical Trials Centre at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, taking part in a clinical trial himself.
Paul’s wife Claire was very touched by all of the support the family has received, saying that the decision to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation came from the ‘faultless care’ that Paul had received from the team at the Clinical Trials Centre.
Emma McQuitty, Fundraising Coordinator at Newcastle Hospitals Charity said:
“We were so saddened to hear about the loss of Paul, it’s clear from the reaction of his community that he was very loved. The donations received from his funeral service, and the kind contributions from the young players, will make a real difference in helping the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation continue to support people with cancer in the North East and beyond.”
