Hexham mum inspired by Sir Bobby

"He's just such a warm person and has done so much to put the North East on the map," she said.

"When you are going through something like this, you have to be positive. Sir Bobby is always positive and it gives you so much inspiration.

"We now have one of the biggest places for cancer care in the country. All the fundraising he has done for the foundation has been incredible. He raised so much money in such a short period of time."

Before being diagnosed, Mrs Fenwick, of Burswell Avenue, worked with children with special needs at Hexham's Priory School.

She signed up for clinical trials after learning she had "triple negative" breast cancer, meaning the standard drugs would not work.

She said: "It has been a big struggle because the cancer that I have got is not one of the normal ones. Most of them are hormonal but mine isn't.

"My friend, who works in medicine, said I should look at getting on a clinical trial and I've got nothing to lose from going on it."

Mrs Fenwick said the centre would offer cancer sufferers and their families across the region a great deal of hope.

"I know that to go through something like this, you need hope," she said.

"Because this new centre has opened, it gives you more hope and knowing about all the expertise they have there, it makes you feel better.

"I wouldn't like anyone to have to go through what I've gone through - it's a horrendous disease and, when you've got children, it's absolutely awful.

"But a centre like this one, where they're trialling new drugs all the time, it definitely gives you hope."

Sir Bobby Robson, who is fighting cancer for the fifth time, raised £1.2m for foundation in just a year, £500,000 of which will equip the new centre.

It has brought together all the clinical research staff who are working to improve cancer treatments into one purpose-built unit.

Researchers are carrying out trials of new drugs and offering patients access to early trials.

Sir Bobby was joined at the official opening a week ago by England manager Fabio Capello.

To make a donation, view messages of support, or for more information on The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, please visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.co.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG.