Sir Bobby's Breakthrough Auction and Ball.

A unique ball and auction in memory of former England manager Sir Bobby Robson and brest cancer campaigner Sally Balch are being held this October.

The event aims to raise a fantastic £250,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Please see below press release:

Cancer charities team up to present unique online auction
Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation join forces to offer money can’t buy prizes.

An array of stunning prizes is up for grabs in a unique online auction to be held this October, with all proceeds split between Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Priceless memorabilia, experiences and treats will go to the highest bidders, with exclusive and luxurious prizes to tempt everyone. The auction is being held in memory of football legend Sir Bobby Robson and breast cancer fundraiser Sally Balch. It will run for two weeks from Saturday 8th – Sunday 23rd October 2011 and aims, alongside a fundraising ball, to raise £250,000 for the two charities.

Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son and part of the auction organising committee, said: “My family and I are very grateful to everyone who has already contributed a prize. It will be a very special auction in aid of two fantastic charities and we’re looking forward to it going live in October.”

The astonishing range of prizes includes once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as the chance to attend the Professional Footballers’ Association Awards ceremony, or join Fabio Capello at an England Senior Men’s training session. Equally unforgettable experiences include a morning on Newmarket Heath with ten times Champion Trainer Sir Michael Stoute, or the chance to play golf at Woburn, home to the British Masters for twenty years.

Additional lots such as tickets to the Six Nations Tournament or Centre Court at Wimbledon are sure to excite high bids.

The auction also features luxuries for those who love to be pampered. Generous bidders will snap up a week at a luxury resort in the Bahamas, champagne on the London Eye, or the chance to have a new style created by celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford. The full list of superb prizes can be found at www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com.

The auction is supported by HRH the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as culinary legend Delia Smith and former Ipswich stars including Mick Mills MBE, who was Ipswich captain during Sir Bobby’s time as manager.

Mick Mills, now a patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, said: “All of the players are so pleased to celebrate Sir Bobby’s life here in Suffolk. We are delighted to support this wonderful auction and hope everyone gets behind it.”

Gina Long, the auction’s founder, added: “When I started planning the auction, I could only have dreamt that I would get support from such magnificent people and great companies. I am delighted that my dream has been turned into reality through the generous backing of so many businesses and individuals.”

The dazzling prizes include:

•VIP Manchester United tickets donated by Sir Alex Ferguson
•Tickets to The Masters snooker final in 2012, with the chance to meet the players
•A personally addressed and signed replica helmet, donated by Lewis Hamilton
•A rare limited edition of Pele’s autobiography, signed by the man himself
•A Brewshed brewing experience with a firkin of beer – 72 pints! – to take home
•A chance to drive an Aston Martin for a day

Mark Robson added:
“I’ve no doubt football clubs are inundated with requests to help charities and we are hugely appreciative of the efforts they’ve gone to for us.

“My dad would have been so proud at the way all these different clubs are pulling together by contributing such incredible prizes. Sadly, cancer is likely to affect every one of us in one way or another and it doesn’t matter which team you support.

“But with our combined efforts we can do something really special through this auction and raise a lot of money to help the experts who are working hard to find better ways to treat cancer.”

For more information on how to bid or donate, go to: www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com