A liver disease expert, Professor Day brings with him a vast wealth of experience and knowledge and is a strong addition to Sir Bobby’s team.

Professor Day was brought up in North Tyneside and studied medicine at the University of Cambridge before returning to the North East to practise at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

He was formerly Head of the School of Clinical Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and, since April 2008, had been Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Professor Day’s research interests are focused largely on fatty liver disease related both to obesity and to alcohol with additional interests in drug-induced liver injury and liver fibrosis.

Foundation delighted

Lady Elsie is extremely pleased to welcome him on board and, when the two met recently, Professor Day shared his memories of his first encounter with Sir Bobby, which took place when Sir Bobby was manager of Ipswich Town FC.

Ipswich Town were playing a friendly against Cambridge University in 1980 and Professor Day was playing for Cambridge.  On hearing his accent from the sideline, Sir Bobby shouted “By, you’re a long way from home bonny lad!”

Lady Elsie says: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Professor Day as a Trustee.  As Bob would say, he’s a great signing for us.

“It’s very important that we have the best people in place to make sure we keep making the right decisions with the money raised for us.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation will also welcome another experienced Trustee in the coming weeks to further strengthen their Board.

More than £10 million raised

Sir Bobby launched his charity in 2008 and it has gone on to raise over £10 million to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer.

The work funded directly benefits cancer patients in the North East and Cumbria and plays a significant role in the international fight against the disease.

Working within the NHS, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation does not employ professional fundraisers to proactively raise money and relies completely on third party, volunteer fundraisers and the incredible generosity of the general public.

Most recently, the charity made a £1million contribution to fund clinical research and nursing posts at the new Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre at Newcastle University.