The new facilities will include a 12 bed unit with treatment rooms, a state of the art laboratory and consulting facilities at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Sir Bobby Robson is currently fighting his 5th battle with cancer, over the last 15 years he has undergone surgery 4 times. His most recent diagnosis came in Spring 2007 when he was found to have cancerous nodules on his lungs, he then completed a 6 week chemotherapy course. The diagnosis originally 12 months ago, was that this time the tumours were inoperable.

The former Newcastle United and England manager had the following to say:

"I have had cancer five times now but I have had a wonderful life and I feel lucky to be alive.

I owe my life to the people who have cared for me and treated me during the last 15 years in which I have had the disease.

I fought as a player and I fought as a manager and now, towards the end of my life I will fight cancer because there is no alternative.

Just like in football, when things go against you, you either give it up and let things get on top of you or you keep on fighting.

I have been on chemotherapy once a week for nine months. I'm now off the chemo and will have a scan in six weeks time to determine exactly the state of my health."

Sir Bobby is hoping people will dig deep into their pockets to support this foundation which aims to be equipped and open by October 2008.

He continued:

"I'm in my 76th year. I've had a fantastic sporting life, but I've had cancer five times. None of my four brothers has had cancer. I keep saying I've had their share.

But I consider myself lucky. I may have had cancer five times but thanks to the wonderful treatment I had through the NHS my life has been saved.

Now it's time I paid them back, and I want to do this through the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, initially by raising £500,000 to equip the new cancer trials unit at the Freeman.

We want the region to have the best state-of-the-art unit not just in England, but in Europe.

We have some very clever people working here in the North East in what is a very difficult field, but I am hopeful that with time and money those people will find a cancer cure that will help save lives. At least a third of everybody in England – that’s 20 million people – will at some stage be affected by cancer. That’s one in every three.

Just think how fantastic it would be if we could find a cure for cancer here in the North East that would not only save the lives of North East people, but sufferers worldwide. I shall be remembered for what I achieved in football. But the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the cancer trials unit is the legacy I want to leave to the people of the North East. If I can raise as much money as possible, then part of my life will have been used in a better way."

Talking of his own personal health he said:

“I have days when I don’t feel very well, like today.

There isn’t much I can do about it other than to keep fighting. You have to be positive. I could spend my time moaning and complaining, but I’m not one of those people. If you are prepared to fight then I am a great believer you can overcome. I know I am going to die, but then we all die eventually. The time will come when I won’t win every battle, but my fighting spirit has seen me through this far."

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