Like too many people, Matt’s family has been affected by cancer and the 39-year-old decided to mark the year he will turn 40 by running half marathons in all seven cities where Sir Bobby managed a club.
Aiming to raise £1,000 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, Matt’s challenge began on 9 March with the Lisbon half marathon in Portugal and this weekend he will take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon.
Then comes Newcastle’s Great North Run, and half marathons in Porto, Ipswich and Eindhoven before finishing in Barcelona in February next year.
Matt, a business analyst, says: “I’ll be 40 this year and I wanted to do something positive to mark that milestone.
“I’ve done the Great North Run a few times for Sir Bobby’s Foundation and he was Newcastle’s manager when I first got my season ticket at St James’ Park.
“In fact, I first supported The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation because my love for football came from those early years watching Sir Bobby’s Newcastle.
“Then cancer came into our family and I became very passionate about the work funded through the charity. It really brought home how important cancer research is.
“So, what started out as a football connection for me has become much more important than that. The clinical trials funded by the Foundation are massively important for the whole region and beyond.”
Working within the NHS and in partnership with other leading charities and organisations, the innovative cancer treatment funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation includes the clinical trials of new cancer drugs.
Patients with advanced cancer come from across the North East and Cumbria for treatment at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, at the Freeman Hospital’s Northern Centre for Cancer Care, in Newcastle.
Matt, who is married to Abby Cameron and has a 4-year-old son called Lennon, enjoys running but is daunted by the prospect of three half marathons on consecutive weekends in September.
He adds: “I’ve been lucky that no two cities have runs on the same day but September is going to be a bit crazy because they’re one after another.
“I’ll have the Great North Run, then Porto, then Ipswich one weekend after the next and that really will be a challenge! Hopefully, people will dig deep to support me and that will spur me on.”
Originally equipped by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre serves a catchment area of 3.5m people regionally and is making a global impact against cancer.
The Foundation also funds posts for both a doctor and a nurse to specialise in clinical drug trials within the centre.
Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son, says: “I know my Dad would be absolutely fascinated by Matt’s challenge. He loved living and working in all these cities and he’d want to know all about the runs.
“September sounds like it will be very tough and we’re looking forward to seeing Matt at the Great North Run.
“The overall challenge is a fantastic idea. We’re very grateful to Matt for thinking of us and to everyone kind enough to sponsor his efforts.”
Matt’s Sir Bobby Robson Seven Cities Challenge:
1.Sporting Lisbon - Lisbon, Portugal (9 March)
2.Fulham FC - London (6 April)
3.Newcastle United - Newcastle (7 September)
4.FC Porto - Porto, Portugal (14 September)
5.Ipswich Town - Ipswich (21 September)
6.PSV Eindhoven - Eindhoven, Holland (12 October)
7.FC Barcelona - Barcelona, Spain (15 February 2026)
To sponsor Matt, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/matt-cameron