Fundraising off to a tee
Apr 26 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
GOLFERS are teeing-off to generate more than £40,000 to help Sir Bobby Robson in his drive to raise half a million pounds to help beat cancer.
Sir Bobby hit the half way mark earlier this month when he raised £260,000 in two weeks.
But now a North businessman is backing the Tyneside legend by attempting to raise £42,000 for the cancer charity by staging a golf tournament.
Tony Peacock, 58, from Low Fell, the managing director of Peacock Financial lost his father to cancer two years ago.
His father Fred, who died at the age of 83, had dedicated his time to raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities through golfing events.
Now Mr Peacock will follow in his father’s footsteps as he hosts the Charity Golf Day, at Matfen Hall, Northumberland, on Friday, June 13 to raise money for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. He said: “My father died of cancer and he did so much charity work and was such a big personality in the community.
“He did so much at the golf clubs in South Tyneside.
“I also admire Sir Bobby for all he is doing, and I’ve been wanting to do something like this for some time.”
The tournament will cost £500 for a team of four players, and local businesses are also being invited to sponsor each hole at £1,000 each.
If it sells out, the event could pull in £42,000 for the charity.
Mr Peacock said: “I know it’s not cheap, and people keep saying it’s expensive for a game of golf, but it’s not that much money to help in beating cancer.”
And Sir Bobby, who is battling cancer for the fifth time, is also having his loyalty repaid by the club he loves.
Newcastle United are planning to host a high-profile sports dinner in aid of the former manager’s charity.
Football legends already confirmed as guests at St James’s Park, include Steve McClaren, Stuart Pearce, Terry Butcher, Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson, Niall Quinn, Steve Gibson and Gareth Southgate.
Tickets for the dinner, which takes place on Friday, May 9 are on sale now, priced £75 per person for tables of 10, and include a drinks reception, five-course dinner, celebrity Question of Sport and entertainment from Bobby Davro.
