Cancer victim raises £8,000 for Sir Bobby

Apr 16 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A NORTH man given just three months to live has provided a big boost to The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation – and met his hero in the process.

Despite suffering terminal pancreatic cancer, Johnny Bliss is putting his remaining time and his talents into raising money for the charity.

The 57-year-old from Lambton village in Washington was diagnosed with the disease six weeks ago and has been told he has only months to live.

But instead of falling into depression, Johnny has set about producing a compilation of his own music on CD and organising a fundraising football match and concert in his home town.

Johnny, a musician and member of the Showmen’s Guild, raised more than £8,000 – with £7,000 in just one day.

He said: “Soon after I was diagnosed with cancer, I heard that Sir Bobby had launched this charity and wanted to help.

“He’s battled this disease five times and I greatly respect him for what he’s achieved in his life, despite the pain he must have experienced.

“By raising money for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, I’ve been able to make something good out of something bad and I’ve fulfilled a lifelong dream to record my own album.

“The response from my family and friends locally in Washington and Sunderland, as well as in the Showmen’s Guild, has just been incredible. Everyone has been massively supportive and I can’t thank them enough.”

His fellow Showmen’s Guild members plan to raise even more money through a charity golf day at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham, at the end of April.

And after hearing about Johnny’s incredible fundraising efforts, Sir Bobby phoned him up to thank him personally and decided to accept the cheque in person. Sir Bobby said: “Being aware of Johnny’s limited future and the horrific disease which we are both trying to conquer, his contribution in raising over £8,000 is a magnificent gesture.

“It will help our cause dramatically and I appreciate it with great warmth and affection. His personal effort fundraising must have been physically very difficult and for him to generate this money at this time in consideration of fellow cancer sufferers in my opinion makes Johnny Bliss a very special person.”

The Foundation will focus on the early detection and treatment of cancer and will help support clinical trials of promising new treatments.

Half-way to the £500,000 target

SIR Bobby’s charity foundation is more than half way to its £500,000 target.

The former Newcastle and England manager started the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation last month and has spoken of his joy at the news that it has raised £260,000 already.

Football fans from as far afield as Florida and Singapore have pledged backing and the fund has been swelled by corporate donations in the region. The foundation, based at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, will initially focus on the early detection and treatment of cancer and will also help support clinical trials of new treatments to tackle the disease. But there are also plans to set up the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.

Anyone wanting to make a donation or find out more about its work should visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.co.uk People can also make donations by sending a cheque to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG. All donors will receive a certificate and a letter of thanks from Sir Bobby.