A Devastating Diagnosis Becomes a Call to Action

Stephen Prescott made his mark as one of the great Rugby players of the 1990’s. He was beloved by team members and fans alike and well-known for his positive attitude and sportsmanship both on and off the field. His popularity extended beyond the confines of Rugby enthusiasts, as was seen by the vast outpouring of love and support when Prescott was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the young age of 32. A specialist operation alleviated his condition, but did not fully eliminate the cancer. Prescott went on to found the Steve Prescott Foundation and devote the rest of his life to raising money for cancer research. Prescott’s battle with cancer ended with his death in 2013, but The Steve Prescott Foundation still continues philanthropic operation today, helped by its main sponsor, SolarKing.

A Rare Disease

Prescott’s second son Koby was born in 2006. The same week, the ex-Rugby player found out he had Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP), a rare form of stomach cancer. PMP tumours are slow growing and typically develop from a polyp on the appendix that may have been unknowingly present for quite some time. Patients are non-symptomatic for years, but the cancerous cells will eventually infiltrate the lining of the abdominal wall, causing fluid accumulation and stomach pain. At the time of his diagnosis, Prescott was given only months to live.

There are only 2 surgical centres in the UK capable of operating on PMP tumours. Prescott had an emergency operation in Basingstoke before receiving further chemotherapy treatment at Christie Hospital in Manchester. Doctors were successful at putting the cancer into temporary remission, but the tumour was expected to regrow.



Helping Others

Prescott’s treatment was funded in part through charity efforts from his former colleagues. At the 2006 Grand Final, the entire Hull team walked on to the field wearing special warmup jerseys that displayed Prescott’s name in large letters. The jerseys were later auctioned to the general public and the money went to assist the Prescott family. But Prescott wasn’t ready to spend the little time he had left enjoying the proceeds of his own popularity. He turned the fundraising appeal of his name and story into a way of achieving more for other people by setting up the Steve Prescott Foundation in 2007. The main recipients of the foundation are the Rugby Football League’s benevolent fund which helps support Rugby players battling serious injury and Christie Hospital in Manchester, one of Europe’s most advanced centres for cancer treatment serving more than 40,000 patients every year.

Legacy

Throughout the remainder of his life, Prescott led the foundation as a public speaker and by participating in active fundraising challenges. In 2008, he ran the London Marathon with a time of 4:32, in spite of regular chemotherapy treatments throughout training. He also completed several cycling challenges and achieved the Three Peaks Challenge as a foundation event. Prescott was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his life achievements in rugby and charity. By the time he passed away in 2013, his foundation had raised approximately £500,000 in charity donations.

Stephen Prescott’s name has not been forgotten by the sport he loved. Since 2014, Prescott’s teams, St. Helens and Hull, have competed yearly for the Steve Prescott cup in his honour. That same year the Rugby Football League renamed its strongest player award the ‘Steve Prescott Man of Steel’. Meanwhile, the Steve Prescott Foundation continues to earn money in his name and support people who are unfortunately faced with the same tragic illness.