15 YEARS OF GOLF DAY IN MEMORY OF BLACK CATS FAN

The family and friends of a Sunderland fan who died of cancer aged just 36 celebrated 15 years of a golf day in his memory with club legend, Jimmy Montgomery, at the Stadium of Light.

With Jimmy Montgomery at the Stadium of Light

Sadly, Kevin Outhwaite, from Tunstall, died in 2010. During the last months of his life, he raised money for our Foundation and fundraising has continued in his memory ever since.

Andrew Oliver, who helps organise the annual golf day at the Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham, says: “Kev was a great friend and, along with his family, we’ve all wanted to keep up the fundraising he started.

“Sir Bobby’s Foundation supported Kev, and we’re really proud to be helping support the charity now in his name.

“Everyone’s involved and this year we’ve raised £5,200 at the golf and some of the lads have been doing running challenges on top of that. That’s the most we’ve ever raised and to do that after 15 years really shows the amazing support we’re lucky to get.

Grant Lawson with his London Marathon medal

“None of us expected to lose Kev like we did and it’s important we keep on doing what we can to help other local people in the same situation. It was great to meet Jimmy, who has also been supported by Sir Bobby’s Foundation, and to feel part of that bigger picture.”

Kevin, like Jimmy Montgomery, undertook a clinical trial of a new cancer drug at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle.

Sir Bobby with Kevin Outhwaite

Now, Newcastle Hospitals and our Foundation are working on proposals to build a world-leading research and treatment facility next to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

The proposed Sir Bobby Robson Institute would pioneer more ground-breaking innovation in cancer treatment and significantly increase the number of clinical trials available for patients across the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Luke and Nathan Outhwaite at the Great North Run

Construction is being funded by our Foundation, with £20million already raised by supporters and a fundraising campaign set to be launched to raise the final £10million needed for the project.

Jimmy says: “Clinical trials are really important and I think it’s fantastic that the family and friends of Kevin Outhwaite are still supporting the work of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation after all this time.

“I was on a trial at the Sir Bobby Centre for a year or so and I know how good the team there are. And the beautiful thing for me about clinical trials is, if it doesn’t work for you, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else.

“With everyone pulling in the same direction, we can make a real difference.”