I’ll keep his flame alive, says Dylan as he becomes patron of cricket legend Bob’s male cancer fight

Bob Willis, England’s most famous fast bowler, was minutes away from death when his wife put her phone to his ear so he could hear his favourite song…

It was Bob Dylan’s Positively Fourth Street.

Sadly, Lauren said, her husband died as the song came to an end. He was aged 70 and had been suffering from prostate cancer.

Now Dylan is backing The Bob Willis Fund and helping to raise money for research.

He has agreed to become the fund’s honorary patron. In a statement, he said: “Bob Willis was a great sportsman who left too soon. I’m happy to help keep his flame and cause alive.”

The main beneficiary for this year’s efforts will be Prostate Cancer UK, to support a UK-based research project.

Its director Dr Matthew Hobbs said: “We are proud to work with the Bob Willis Fund, and delighted that Prostate Cancer UK will be the main beneficiary of Blue For Bob Day.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the money raised will be absolutely vital in helping us reduce the harm that it does.”

You can make a donation here https://bobwillisfund.org/

Lauren says. ‘Tim Rice, a friend and survivor of prostate cancer, wrote to Bob Dylan’s manager, Jeff Rosen and said how amazing Bob was as a cricketer and a man, how he loved Bob Dylan and how he’d changed his name aged 16. Then he asked him if he’d be honorary patron.’

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