Story
Phil Watts, Steve Liddle, Natasha Redwin, Darren Dewar,Dan Jones, Stuart Gill, Shea Ferber, Robert Thompson & Andy Smith will be taking part in the Blackpool 10k on Sunday 12th May 2013 for Steve Prescott Foundation,
Steve Prescott played Rugby League for St Helens, Hull, Wakefield, Ireland and was a GB Lions Tourist.
In September 2006, Steve was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei a rare form of Cancer, he was told that he would not see his two children grow up; he was given months to live. He underwent a major operation in Basingstoke Hospital and tumours were removed from his abdomen. After surgery Steve was transferred to The Christie Hospital in Manchester for chemotherapy treatment to try to control the remaining disease.
The concept of undertaking fund-raising took shape in August 2007, after Steve was Guest of Honour at a Wigan Supporters versus St.Helens Supporters Charity Rugby League match. The game signified the starting point of the Steve Prescott Foundation, with two organisations close to his own heart set to receive the benefits of his own fund-raising activities:
- The Christie: The Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 40,000 patients a year. This is where Steve is currently being treated. It is one of only two national specialist hospitals that specialises in Pseudomyxoma Peritonei in GB.
- Try Assist: Previously known as The Rugby League Benevolent Fund, and aims to support players whose lives are affected by serious injuries while playing the game of Rugby League.
Backed by an enthusiastic Committee, the first major event was a 199 mile walk, beginning in Hull and finishing at Old Trafford, Manchester, before the Grand Final. All together, thirteen rugby league clubs were visited en route, with a total of £60,000 raised for the Foundation. Supporters from rival clubs walked side by side with each other for the cause, with twelve supporting Stephen the full distance of the walk itself. It was a difficult scenario for Stephen, who had only just finished a course of chemotherapy. Yet sheer grit, determination, plain stubbornness and the great camaraderie of friends and supporters enabled him to succeed.
Stephen also had the privilege of kicking off in the special ‘All Golds’ versus ‘Northern Union’ match to celebrate the Centenary of the first-ever Test Match between England and New Zealand in 1907. The game was held at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium and for Stephen to be Guest of Honour was indicative of his high profile within the rugby league game itself.
In May 2008 there was another challenge for Stephen. After months of hard training, punctuated by chemotherapy, he attempted the London Marathon, together with three former Rugby League players and team-mates: Chris Joynt, Dave Lyon and Terry O’Connor. Despite suffering from intense cramp along the way, he finished the run in 4 hours 32 minutes. He was disappointed not to beat his father Eric’s time from the same race some years previously! The event was a huge success, however, receiving extensive regional media coverage and raising £8,000 for the Foundation.
Bardon Concrete, one of the leading companies in their field in the North West identified the Stephen Prescott Foundation in its Community Engagement Plan for further and on-going support, donating £10,000 in 2008. A major publicity coup for the Foundation came in March 2008, when it was announced that Hymix Ltd, in conjunction with Bardon Aggregates, were prepared to display the Stephen Prescott Foundation logo, together with Christies and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund, on several of their readymix drums. The launch, at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Chorley was a huge success and those vehicles with the Foundation logos emblazoned on their ‘drums’ can be seen regularly plying the road and motorway networks of the North West of England.
In July 2008 the Steve Prescott Foundation attempted it’s most ambitious project to date with Stephen playing a major role in organising a unique boxing event for former Rugby League players at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton. Former team-mates and opponents such as Steve Hampson, Garry Schofield, Anthony Sullivan were more than willing to undertake weeks of training to take part in the contest. As part of the training, the contestants even visited Ricky Hatton’s gym in Manchester, when Ricky himself gave his full support for the event. Such activities have done much to bring together the Rugby League community in particular, who have always been extremely supportive in all of Stephen’s ventures. On the night itself, Stephen could not sit back and watch. He entered the ring and took on former European Middleweight Champion Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham in an exhibition bout which delighted the audience. The event raised £32,000, together with further awareness and publicity for the Foundation.
A second Trans-Pennine walk was planned for October 2008, but once again Stephen looked upon it as an opportunity to increase the level of challenge involved – to push the boundaries further. This time, the Trans-Pennine walk encompassed 23 Rugby League clubs visited during a fortnight. The Grand Final match ball was also carried along the way. Several people took time off work to ‘go the distance’ to help make the walk a huge success. The National League clubs, in particular, embraced the participants and the Foundation concept with great hospitality. At Dewsbury, youngsters from Thornhill Community School greeted the walkers; at Batley, there was a strong compliment of juniors from the famous Batley Boys club. The walk had once again done much to unite communities on both sides of the Pennines and raised £40,000 for the Foundation. The match ball was delivered to Old Trafford on Grand Final day, after the walkers made the final approach to the stadium led by a Scots piper. Stephen was greeted by Mike Stephenson of Sky Sports at the end of the walk and as a result maximum publicity for the Foundation was ensured.
Stephen has developed into the perfect ‘front man’ and is an accomplished speaker when introducing his various challenges to the media on behalf of the Foundation and has undoubtedly helped to increase awareness of not just his own condition, but the valuable work of The Christie Hospital and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund. He has encompassed several different sports and activities for his challenges and this has included participation from a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, who maybe would not have taken part in charity work but for his influence. Stephen is also a member of a strong, caring family, including his wife, Linzi and sons Taylor and Koby, who have been totally supportive throughout his illness. Indeed, his older brother, Neil, not only helped him with his preparation for the Marathon but also stepped into the ring for one of the bouts in the boxing spectacular at Bolton!
Steve at the moment is having more intense Chemotherapy and is having 3 monthly scans to monitor the remaining disease. Having a terminal illness does not stop him from trying new challenges that pushes his body to the limits.
Steve was awarded with an MBE in the 2010 New Years Honours List for his services to Rugby League and Charity work.