Rob Lee is taking part in the trip of a lifetime to help a vital community project in South Africa while helping a cause close to the club's heart at the same time.
The former West Ham United midfielder, and lifelong fan, has signed up for a ten-day trip with the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. Rob and the others taking part - including Stephanie Moore MBE - will be living in a community and helping to renovate the local school Noordhoek Primary. All funds raised will go straight to the Fund. As a local lad fittingly born in West Ham in 1966 and well aware of the impact of Bobby Moore, Lee was delighted to take part.
"I wanted to be involved," said the former midfielder whose sons Oliver and Elliott are both in Tony Carr's Academy. "I have been involved with charities throughout my career, giving money and doing things but you never really get a chance to give a lot of time. I had a bit of free time and the Bobby Moore connection is very apt for me. I grew up a West Ham fan and I have now got lads who are over at West Ham so it is perfect for me really."
It will all be a far cry from his distinguished days as a player, where Lee is thankful he got the chance to pull on the claret and blue towards the end of his career. "Playing for West Ham was one of those things I always wanted to do. Regardless of when I did it and how many games I got, I managed it. I played for the club. It was what I always wanted to do as a young boy and no one can take that away."
West Ham United are delighted to be in the first year of a three-year partnership agreement with the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK (Registered Charity No. 1089464). You can back Rob by visiting www.justgiving.com/roblee