NUFC mascot honour for young fundraiser

One of the Newcastle United mascots for Sunday’s (7th April) crucial league match against Fulham will be 10-year-old Zack Allen-Curry from Biddick Hall, South Shields.

Zack is attending the game with parents Andrew and Caroline and brother Liam thanks to Yorkshire-based company Distinction Doors, who are ‘treating’ the family in recognition of their collective efforts raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

14-year old Liam began their fund-raising efforts with a coast to coast cycle ride last year after his Granddad Jack Allen was diagnosed with cancer.

Jack, a bingo hall manager from Forest Hall, was a patient in the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and sadly died in August.  The family then organised a night in memory of Jack at Westoe Rugby Club in aid of the Foundation, which Zack followed up with a sponsored dip in the North Sea on Boxing Day.

Cruelly, in October last year, in the same week that Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Patron Alan Shearer met with the family to thank them for their efforts, Andrew Curry was diagnosed with a brain tumour.  In February, Andrew had a successful operation to remove the tumour and is recovering so well that he is going back to work next week.

Caroline says: “My dad Jack was helped by the Foundation and we’re all really proud to support their work.

“When Andrew was diagnosed it just brought it all home to us again how important it is to keep pushing for better ways to find and treat cancer.

“We’re all so thrilled about going to the match.  Especially Zack.  He can’t wait to go out on to the St James’ Park pitch and meet the players.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we’re very grateful to Distinction Doors for their generosity.

“We’re just hoping we get a Newcastle win to top the day off for everyone.”

The family are continuing with their tremendous efforts for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Liam Allen-Curry is now planning a sponsored cycle ride to Paris in July.  He is currently training hard with the help of fellow Sir Bobby Robson Foundation fund-raiser Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison to ensure he will be fit enough to complete the challenge.