DRAGON BOATS RACING TOWARDS NEW CANCER TREATMENTS
Every year, thousands of spectators are drawn to Newcastle’s Quayside to cheer on teams in the NE1 Newcastle Dragon Boat Race.
This September, as well as competing for the coveted title of Dragon Boat Champions 2026, racers will also be helping to raise funds for our Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity.
NE1’s hugely popular Dragon Boat Race on the River Tyne takes place on Saturday 26th September.
Shola Ameobi, who played under Sir Bobby at Newcastle United, was on hand to help announce the new charity partnership alongside lion and dragon performers from Edmund Ng’s Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu, Lion and Dragon Club and NE1 Chief Executive, Stephen Patterson.
Shola says: “This is a really exciting way to help support the work of Sir Bobby’s Foundation and I hear the boats sold out fast.
“I’ve no doubts that this event would have appealed to Sir Bobby. He would have loved the idea of each boat working together as a team and he’d have been thrilled to know it was all supporting the work of his Foundation.
“That support is more important than ever now, as everyone’s working hard to find the funding needed to build the Sir Bobby Robson Institute. The new institute will bring more clinical trials and promising new cancer treatments to the region and that’s something we can all pull together on.”
Construction of the £30m Sir Bobby Robson Institute will begin this year and is being funded by our Foundation.
A world-leading cancer trials hub for the region at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, it will provide patient-centred cancer care and research to find new and faster ways to detect and treat cancer.
With over £20 million raised so far thanks to the generosity of Sir Bobby Robson Foundation supporters, support for The Sir Bobby Robson Institute is now crucial to raise the final funds to complete and fully equip the Institute by 2027.
Stephen Patterson, CEO of race organisers, NE1 said: “We’re honoured to be teaming up with The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as the fundraising partner for this year’s NE1 Dragon Boat Race event. Teamwork is central to success on race day, and we hope our racers will take inspiration from Sir Bobby’s legacy.
“Put the date in your diary, it is such an adrenaline fuelled day for both competitors and spectators alike and we encourage everyone to come down to enjoy the event and support the fundraising activities.”
At this year’s event, as well as the excitement on the water, the Quayside will be filled with crowds cheering on the competitors alongside a range of free, family-friendly activities on dry land.
Visitors can enjoy crafts, live performers, face painting, and other entertainment throughout the day. Racers will also be able to join in these activities between their races, making it a fantastic event for participants and spectators.
All boats have now been sold for this year’s race, but people can still get involved with the racing by sponsoring and fundraising for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, for more details contact: kitty.brown@newcastlene1ltd.com.
If you missed out on a boat this year, get in early for the Dragon Boat Race 2027 by registering your interest at ne1dragonboatrace.com.
For Sir Bobby Robson Institute fundraising enquiries please contact Kate Bradley Kate.bradley14@nhs.net or call 0191 213 7235.
