Plans have been unveiled for a £30 million cancer research and treatment centre named after former England manager Sir Bobby Robson. The facility will be built next to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation announced the ambitious project, which aims to pioneer innovative approaches to treatment and increase clinical trials available to patients in the North of England. Sir Bobby set up the foundation in 2008, just months before his death, dedicated to supporting fellow cancer patients and researching the disease.
Facility details and timeline
Designs have been submitted for planning permission, with the centre potentially opening in 2028 if approved. The foundation has already raised £20 million towards the project and will launch a push for the remaining £10 million.
The proposed Sir Bobby Robson Institute would represent a significant boost to cancer care in the region. It will focus on cutting-edge research and expanding treatment options for patients across northern England.
Fundraising continues
Sir Bobby's son Mark Robson is among 122 people taking part in the Great North Run on Sunday to raise money for the foundation. The event forms part of ongoing efforts to reach the £30 million target.
Mark Robson said: "I'm looking forward to joining all the foundation runners on Sunday and I'm sure, for every one of us, news about these plans being submitted will motivate us all the way to South Shields. The Sir Bobby Robson Institute is only a possibility because of all the fundraising that's come before and everyone involved with Dad's foundation is thrilled we can now share the exciting plans for the institute."
He added: "If we're successful, it would be a gamechanger in terms of cancer research and treatment in this region. It meant the world to him to see people fundraising, people wanting to help, and to know that the money donated was going to do something positive for those who came after him and who would also be facing cancer."
Foundation origins
Sir Bobby established the foundation after speaking to his oncologist, Professor Ruth Plummer, when he asked if he could help following his fifth cancer diagnosis. The conversation sparked the creation of what would become a major force in cancer research funding.
When he later presented Professor Plummer with a £500,000 cheque, Sir Bobby said: "I've achieved many things during my career in football, won trophies, represented my country, received all kinds of wonderful awards and even been knighted, but I'm as proud of this achievement as I am of any other in my life."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
