Shearer backing Widnes Magic Weekend campaign
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has pledged his support to Widnes Vikings‘ Magic Weekend campaign in support of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
This is the second time the Vikings have offered support to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for the sport’s venture to Newcastle for Magic Weekend, after wearing a specially made shirt in 2015.
Shearer is a patron for the Foundation, and has not only pledged his support to the Vikings’ efforts in their ‘Tackling Cancer…I’m on it!, but also enlisted fellow footballing icons Ian Wright and Gary Lineker onto the campaign, which raised £20,000 in the previous year.
This year, every £10 donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation made through the Vikings will be rewarded with the donors’ name printed into the fabric of their 2016 special edition Magic Weekend shirt.
The jersey will once again carry the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation logo in place of its primary sponsor and the team will run out at St James’ Park wearing the shirts in May. A further donation will be made to the charity from the shirt sales, too.
This has lead to the former England captain has expressed his delight at being associated with the campaign, and thanks the efforts of Widnes Vikings ahead of Magic Weekend.
“Sir Bobby’s charity is pushing all the time for better ways to treat cancer and fundraising like this is very important,” Shearer said.
“I’m lucky, I’ve already seen my name on a football shirt at St James’ Park but I never thought I’d see it on a rugby league top. This is a wonderful chance for thousands of rugby league and football fans, anyone who supports the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation really, to have their name printed onto a match shirt. It’s a special idea and I think it will be very successful.”
Widnes Vikings director Brian O’Connor is thankful to Shearer, Lineker and Wright for their support and is confident that the work being done by the Vikings will be worthwhile in the long run.
“The Foundation aims to turn the tide in the fight against cancer,” he said.
“This is an issue that the majority of people have experienced directly or indirectly and that makes our own initiative bigger than simply Widnes Vikings as a Club. It is something that the whole sporting community can buy into and be proud that they are making a real difference to so many lives in the UK and throughout the world.
“If the funds through the Vikings campaign helps to save one life then it will be a success not just for the club but for the Rugby League community.
“I would like to thank Alan, Gary and Ian for their support and sincerely hope it encourages many more to pledge their support to the initiative. I would also like to thank all those who have donated thus far. We are lucky have high profile support for this cause, but your contribution truly makes this worthwhile. Every donation will make a difference.”