Peter Reid 'honoured' to run for Sir Bobby charity

News imagePA Media Peter Reid stands in a park in front of a small lake on a sunny day. Reid, 70, has silver short hair and is leaning on a metal gate. He is wearing a t-shirt which says 'The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation'.PA Media
Peter Reid said he was inspired to fundraise for Sir Bobby Robson's charity following his daughter's cancer diagnosis

Ex-Sunderland boss Peter Reid said he is "honoured" to take part in the Great North Run for Sir Bobby Robson's cancer charity.

Reid, who played for Sir Bobby's England team in the mid-1980s, will join runners in the half-marathon from Newcastle to South Shields on 13 September.

The 70-year-old said his recent birthday "felt like a landmark" and that he liked "working towards goals, so this felt right".

Reid said he was inspired to fundraise for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation following his daughter's cervical cancer diagnosis, and the death of former Scunthorpe player and England captain Kevin Keegan.

The charity is raising money to build a £30m cancer-fighting institute in Newcastle which is set to become a world-leading cancer drug trials centre.

Reid described the former England manager as "a wonderful man, a really warm man who was always great with me".

"It will be an honour to do the Great North Run for his charity," he said.

The ex-England midfielder added: "My daughter had cervical cancer and thankfully her treatment was successful but cancer is something we all live with."

News imagePeter Reid sitting on an office chair with his feet up on his desk, next to several documents. He is wearing a dark sweatshirt with the brand name asics on the front.
Reid was the manager for Sunderland from 1995–2002

Reid said he had "done a few 10ks over the years" and when he heard about the cancer research centre he "wanted to help".

"My 70th feels like a landmark and I quite like working towards goals so this felt right."

Others joining the Sir Bobby's team on the day will be cancer patients, clinical trials researchers, construction workers from the institute site and members of the manager's family.

Construction work on the cancer centre started in April.

Sir Bobby's son Mark, who is the foundation's chairman, said: "Dad called his foundation his 'last and greatest team', and we're very grateful to everyone taking on this challenge for us."

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