Back in 2009 my husband, Bob Baxter, was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. During his treatment he was offered a clinical trial at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, which for a time stopped his cancer progressing. Sadly, Bob died in 2014 but the medication he received at the Centre extended his life beyond what we had expected meaning he could spend more time with our son, Will, carry on teaching, travel and enjoy time with our friends and family. Just as importantly, the research went on to help many other patients and the treatments are used in cancer care today.

So I’m running my 10th Great North Run for this amazing charity! I’ve never considered myself to be a proper runner because I didn’t start until was 40 - that was down to Bob who ran the GNR while he was on the clinical trial - so it always feels like the greatest achievement when I get across the finish line. Every time I cross the emotion of the day, and remembering Bob, takes over but luckily there is always a GNR volunteer on hand offering a shoulder to cry on and a hug. Then I do it all over again at the SBRF charity tent with my fellow runners and volunteers!

This year will be even better because not only will I be joined by my usual partner in crime, Bob’s sister Sam, my son Will and my partner Mark are running their first Great North Runs! A team to support Sir Bobby’s greatest team!

If you can spare a couple of pounds I would be so grateful - the work of the Foundation is so important in the care of people across North East England, and in finding new treatments to help people throughout the UK and beyond.

Sir Bobby Robson launched his Foundation to help find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer, after a request for help from his oncologist Professor Ruth Plummer. She was treating Sir Bobby as he faced cancer for the fifth and what he knew would be the final time.

She needed to raise £500,000 to equip a new cancer drug trials centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle upon Tyne and asked him if he knew anyone who might like to donate.

Sir Bobby responded by launching a charity to get the money she needed. He described it as like being at the helm of a team again. What he called his last and greatest team.