Dr Chris Steele opens centre in honour of Denise Robertson

This Morning's Dr Chris Steele took a break from the hit show to open a charity headquarters named after East Boldon agony aunt Denise Robertson.
The official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Dr Chris Steele from the This Morning TV show performs the opening watched by Denise's widower Bryan Thobron and her son Mark Robertson. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHThe official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Dr Chris Steele from the This Morning TV show performs the opening watched by Denise's widower Bryan Thobron and her son Mark Robertson. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
The official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Dr Chris Steele from the This Morning TV show performs the opening watched by Denise's widower Bryan Thobron and her son Mark Robertson. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

The beloved broadcaster, who was born in Sunderland, became a champion for a number of charities before she passed away in April after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Now one of the charities she supported as a patron has named its new headquarters Denise Robertson House in her honour.

The official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Chief Executive for FACT, Joanne Smith and Dr Chris Steele from TV show This Morning. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHThe official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Chief Executive for FACT, Joanne Smith and Dr Chris Steele from TV show This Morning. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
The official opening of Denise Robertson House, the new home of cancer charity FACT on Clasper Way, Swalwell, Gateshead. Chief Executive for FACT, Joanne Smith and Dr Chris Steele from TV show This Morning. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
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Dr Chris joined Denise’s husband Bryan and son Mark at the opening of the base for North East charity FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together), in Swalwell.

Husband Bryan said: “She would be overjoyed if she was here to see this. She helped so many people over the years so this really is the perfect way to remember all the wonderful work she did. This really would mean the world to her, she would be honoured.”

Denise’s legacy of kindness will live on in the headquarters, which will serve as a main support, advice and education centre.

FACT was founded by Joanne Smith after her own battle with breast cancer to help increase the levels of support available to cancer sufferers and their loved ones.

Denise RobertsonDenise Robertson
Denise Robertson
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She said: “Denise has been a friend, support and inspiration to me since the day she agreed to be a patron of FACT, and we had wanted to name our new home in her honour, rather than in her memory.

“It was decided well before she died that we wanted the building to be named Denise Robertson House in tribute to all the time and effort she dedicated to us, although it makes me very sad that we never got to tell her that. We are devastated that she is no longer here, but her legacy will live on with the charity.

“We have grown so much over the past few years and are now able to work with more people and families, and to hold more sessions and classes, than ever before. Our new building gives us the capacity to hold multiple events at once and we are hoping to add to our existing programme even more in the coming months.”