Lady Elsie Robson, the widow of Sir Bobby Robson, has praised fundraisers after a charity launched by the Ipswich football legend to beat cancer reached £7 million.

With the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation today marking its sixth anniversary, the charity has said that, following the biggest year of fundraising, the total raised now stands at £7,028,352.

Lady Elsie, Sir Bobby’s widow, was joined by Mick Mills, the former Ipswich Town captain and foundation patron, and ex-England and Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer, in expressing their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the cause.

The foundation pays for cutting-edge cancer treatment, helps fund international research into the disease and supports the clinical trials of new cancer drugs at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle.

More than 3,000 patients have been involved in clinical trials since Sir Bobby opened the centre in February 2009.

Lady Elsie said the generosity of time and effort shown over the last six years has been “incredible”.

“To have raised this much is breathtaking,” she said. “We have had such tremendous support from so many people. I know Bob would be as amazed as I am. As a fund within a hospital’s charity, we rely completely on the general public to raise money for us.

“It is a privilege to meet with fundraisers and to hear the trouble they have gone to. So often they have a personal reason to want to support a cancer charity.

“It means a lot to me to see their pride when we talk about the work we have funded through the foundation thanks to their help.

“It really is a fantastic team effort and we are very grateful to everyone who has contributed.”

Mills, who won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup under the management of Sir Bobby, described the amount raised as “absolutely amazing”.

“As the years go by, I am less and less surprised by how Sir Bobby’s name continues to keep bringing us together,” he said.

“And really it is his name, what he did and what he meant to people, that’s what reaches out to people through the charity.

“He was an inspiring man for people with cancer. Every time, five times, he met it full on. That last time though, that was the most amazing for me.

“He knew he wasn’t going to win but he didn’t disappear. He stayed in the public eye, that’s what gets to me. I don’t think I could do that. He was a brave man. Very, very brave.”

Shearer, who played for Newcastle while Sir Bobby was manager, said: “Sir Bobby began this charity to help other people going through the pain of cancer and he would be incredibly proud to see how well it is doing today.

“He said this charity was his legacy and his presence continues to be felt through it.

“I think everyone who chooses to fundraise feels the same way.”

To make a donation, view messages of support find out more information, visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Room 203, Cheviot Court, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN.