Alan Shearer to be patron of Sir Bobby Robson's charity

Oct 15 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

FOOTBALL hero Alan Shearer will today stage an emotional meeting with Sir Bobby Robson’s family as he is unveiled as the patron of the legendary manager’s cancer charity.

Shearer will be greeted by Lady Elsie and Sir Bobby’s sons Paul, Andrew and Mark, who asked him to join the cancer-fighting cause following the former England manager’s death in July.

The Newcastle United record goalscorer was among a host of stars who turned out for a tearful memorial service at Durham Cathedral last month.

And last night he said it was a great honour to continue Sir Bobby’s bid to find a cure for cancer as patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Shearer said: “It was a huge honour for me to be asked by Sir Bobby’s family to join his charity as patron and I was very happy to accept.

“Bobby’s death left a gaping hole in football and within the North East as a region.

“He’s a man I admired greatly and I know I’ll continue to miss him in the coming years.

“He is completely irreplaceable and the esteem he was held in became very apparent after he passed away. The outpouring of affection and respect for him was phenomenal and it’s not something we are likely to see again.”

Since it was created last March, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised more than £1.8m to equip a cancer trials research centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.