Stars tee off for Algarve charity

By DAISY SAMPSON [email protected]

Celebrities, including television presenters, football stars and comedians, joined Lady Elsie Robson, the widow of Sir Bobby Robson, to take part in the eighth Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Classic at Pestana Vila Sol on June 18.

The annual golf tournament raised €73,000 on the day for the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão children’s home in Faro, a charity that has been supported by Lady Elsie Robson and her family for many years.

Lady Elsie said: “We wish to keep the golf classic running, firstly as a celebration of Bobby’s life and secondly because Bob would have wanted to keep raising money for the homeless children it supports – some of whom are tiny babies, just a few days old, who have been tragically abandoned.”

Alan Shearer in action. Photo: SUPPLIED.

Representatives from Pestana, some of the celebrities taking part in the tournament and Lady Elsie and her family, all took time to visit the home in Faro to see firsthand the work that was being done to help the children there and what the money would be used for.

Dr Luis Villas Boas, the director of the home, told the Algarve Resident: “In total there was around €77,000 donated to us from this charity event and I am very proud of this support that we receive for the home”.

He added: “It was also very important for those taking part to come to the home and see the children themselves, only then can they feel the love that they have and see the need to help to care for these children.”

The theme for the tournament this year was Ipswich Town and remembering the 13 years that Sir Bobby led the team, including winning the FA Cup in 1978, and as part of this theme, players from the 1980/81 season took part in the tournament, including Alan Brazil, Russell Osman and former captain Mick Mills.

Other stars involved in the day included the recently appointed West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, TV presenter and former Republic of Ireland footballer Jim Beglin, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, TV presenter Tim Brooke-Taylor, former England footballer Alan Shearer and comedian Bobby Davro, who led the entertainment at the gala dinner.

Lady Elsie Robson. Photo: SUPPLIED.

Over the past eight years around €500,000 has been raised for the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão.

Lady Elsie said: “Bob loved this tournament from its start in 2004 and was proud of what it had achieved in his name. My sons and I wish the tournament to live on for many years to celebrate Bob’s life and to keep helping the Refúgio, giving the children it looks after the right to be loved.”
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