Saturday 24 June is a red-letter day for anyone who loves sport and wants to help the children of Refugio Aboim Ascensão.
For nearly 20 years, the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Tournament has been bringing sporting celebrities together. The event celebrates the life of former England football manager, Sir Bobby Robson, and raises funds for the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão.
Sir Bobby Robson and his wife, Lady Elsie, lived in Portugal for three years. At that time, Sir Bobby managed Lisbon and Porto. They loved it here and always wanted to repay the kindness the Portuguese people showed them. Supporting the Faro-based, Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, has been one way of doing that.
Staff at the refúgio look after up to a hundred local children who have been abandoned and, in some cases, abused. They do fantastic work, creating a new home and new lives for children badly in need of a helping hand. Their philosophy is simple yet compelling: “Every child has a right to be loved.” The annual Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Tournament has raised over €1.3 million for the children’s home.
This year’s tournament once again takes place at the Pestana Vila Sol Championship Course in Vilamoura. Amateur and celebrity golfers will be competing throughout the day, before settling down for a Gala Dinner and charity auction. This year’s theme is Bobby ‘90. Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son and event organiser, explained. “This year would have been my dad’s 90th birthday, so as a celebration of his life, the ‘90 theme seemed appropriate. But it’s also something more, as it harks back to the Italia ‘90 World Cup when my dad led the England team to the semi-finals. It’s generally considered one of the most significant tournaments in recent history, for the way it helped popularise football in England.”
Please go along Saturday, 24 June, to show your support and, if possible, donate to Refugio Aboim Ascensão.
