Charity Cyclists Honour Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan

An annual charity cycle ride in support of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, has taken on added poignancy following the sad news about Kevin Keegan.

Today, 22 July, the 15th Three Days for Bobby ride set off from Sir Bobby’s statue at St James’ Park, with fundraisers beginning their journey surrounded by tributes to another football legend lost to cancer.

Organiser Stephen Hay, a Northumbrian Water project manager from Sunniside, explained:

“This is our 15th Three Days for Bobby bike ride and it just becomes more meaningful every year.

“We’re all football fans, mostly Newcastle fans, and we began the ride because of Sir Bobby. Along the way though we’ve all lost loved ones to cancer and there are people who should be on the ride with us now who are no longer here.

“It’s especially meaningful that we’re able to start the ride from St James’ Park surrounded by tributes to Kevin Keegan. We’re all feeling his loss.

“We began this fundraising for Sir Bobby and now it’s also in memory of King Kev and everyone we’ve lost in the intervening years to cancer too.

“We know the money raised is doing something incredibly important and, when the Sir Bobby Robson Institute is completed, all the riders and everyone who has supported us will be proud to know we’ve played even a small part in funding the work there.”

The route of the annual Three Days for Bobby bike varies and this year’s ride is 160miles long and ends at the home of PSV Eindhoven, another team managed by Sir Bobby.

In total 21 cyclists, as well as support drivers, have come together from across Tyneside and Teesside for the ride, with all funds raised going towards construction of the £30m Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

Fully funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, construction of the new institute has just begun on the site of the Freeman Hospital in 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.

Anisa Rahim, Campaign Officer for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, waved the riders off and said:

“Fundraising like this is the bedrock of our Foundation and we’re always grateful for that support.

“Anyone who sponsors the Three Days for Bobby cyclists will be supporting fundraising for the new Sir Bobby Robson Institute and enabling even more cancer drug trials in our region.

“It’s a disease that affects everyone in some way and Stephen and his fellow cyclists have all been impacted by it. Thankfully, we are making progress and improving treatments, and we’re thankful for anyone who contributes to help us continue our work.”

An initial £20m to complete the Sir Bobby Robson Institute has been raised by long-standing supporters and fundraisers and a group of generous founding donors, including The Barbour Foundation, has brought the total raised for the institute to £26.5m.

For Sir Bobby Robson Institute fundraising enquiries please contact Kate Bradley Kate.bradley14@nhs.net or call 0191 213 7235.

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