Detecting New Ways to Treat Cancer in Langley Park!

A North East metal detecting club has raised £2,000 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle’s Hospitals Charity, with a special charity rally.

The event, in Sir Bobby’s childhood village of Langley Park, Durham, was organised by True North Detecting and attended by 45 members of the popular club.

The money raised will now go towards completion of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a world leading cancer drug trials centre for the region.

Construction of the £30m institute began this year on the site of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

True North Detecting founder, Alan Mason, explains: “We organise events almost every weekend and we’re always looking for new sites to explore.

“When we talked to the farmer about potentially using this land, he was happy to help and suggested any fee paid should go towards supporting The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. That set us thinking and we decided to organise a proper charity dig.

“There was an 18th Century path running directly across this field and there were Romans in this area, which made this a really interesting prospect.

“It was a great day and finds included Georgian and Victorian artifacts and coins, and a medieval halfpenny.

“Because of the Bank Holiday, a lot of our members had family commitments but even those who couldn’t attend were keen to make donations. Everyone’s affected by cancer one way or another, so we had fantastic support for the charity.”

The event was held on land owned by County Durham farmer and father of two, Leo Moralee, who was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021.

Leo says: “I was interested to see what the detectorists turned up and really happy when they agreed to support a charity that means a lot to me.

“I have an active job but, within a year, cancer put me on my knees and I needed a wheelchair.

“Thankfully, my drug trial was successful and I had far fewer side effects than I’d had on the standard treatment. I’ve now been in remission for over two years and words can’t express how I feel about the drug trials team.

“Their passion to improve cancer treatments is amazing. They light up with the prospect of a positive new treatment on the horizon. It’s impossible not to feel inspired by them.

“I’m grateful for my treatment but I’m also proud to know that my trial, and the data they’re still gathering from me, is doing something to help for the future. The new Sir Bobby Robson Institute is going to help even more people to take part in cancer trials like mine and that, ultimately, means more lives will be saved.”

Funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, when completed, the Sir Bobby Robson Institute will enable ground-breaking cancer treatment that will directly benefit around 3.5 million people living in the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire, as well as making a global impact.

Support is now crucial to raise the final funds to complete and fully equip the Institute by 2027.

For Sir Bobby Robson Institute fundraising enquiries please contact Kate Bradley Kate.bradley14@nhs.net or call 0191 213 7235.

For more information about the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, please visit: www.sirbobbysgreatestteam.co.uk.