When Sir Bobby Robson completed his final chemotherapy session in 2007, his oncologist Dr Ruth Plummer pulled him to one side. Her department was outdated, a new cancer unit had been planned, but there was no money to equip it. Did he know anyone who could help?
He took it home to his wife Elsie. She backed it without hesitation, and the phone calls started. A committee formed, and the idea emerged — use his name, build a charity around it.
Bobby wasn’t comfortable with it at first. But once his name was attached, there was no going back.
The target was £500,000 by summer 2008. The launch at the Copthorne Hotel was an immediate success, with Des Lynam, Bob Wilson and Jim Rosenthal all showing up out of nothing but goodwill.
Seven weeks later, they’d raised £560,000.
Today, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised over £20 million for cancer research.
Legend. ❤️