Neil Prescott
Neil's 2015 UK IRONMAN
Fundraising for Steve Prescott Foundation
Story
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. Most Ironman events have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race, where the Ironman race starts at 6:00 AM, the mandatory swim cut off for the 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim is 2 hours 20 minutes, the bike cut off time is 4:30 PM, and all finishers must complete their marathon by 11:00 PM.
Neil Prescott, John Bowes, Dave Gaskell & Ian Bagshaw are undertaking the UK Ironman located in Bolton on the 19th July 2015, for the 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:
Steve sadly passed away on the 9th November 2013 after going through a pioneering multi-visceral transplant in a final act of defiance against the rare cancer he had battled against for more than seven years.
The operation, involving the transplant of multiple organs, took place over October 15 & 16. It lasted 32 hours, however he died as a result of Graft Versus Host Disease, a Complication that can follow a Transplant.