PLEASE READ THIS.........

Along with my great friend Adam Cotham we are taking on an exceptional challenge, I never thought I’d say the words ‘I’m climbing Mount Everest’ but that’s the challenge I’ve set myself. And I’m doing it for a very good reason and that’s to raise money in memory of my good friend, Steve Prescott.

I am always looking for new ways to challenge myself – whether that’s in business or personally, and this year I thought I’d take that to a whole new level. In October 2018, I will trek to Everest base camp with a great group of people, all of us doing this to raise money for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

Steve and I were good friends for many years and I watched how hard he battled against his illness but also how hard he worked to fundraise to help other people. It is his drive and his passion that will push me through my training and the trek up Everest. 

Hate talking about this bit because it makes me very sad but it needs to be said. I watched Ste deteriorate over years even though he was given only weeks to live after being diagnosed with that terrible disease, I used to think all the time when I saw him or speak to him or his wife Linzi, how are they doing this???!!!!

Ste had a determination like I have never seen anywhere or in anyone else, just a never give up attitude and I was amazed to see it and I tried to support him anyway I could with his many challenges he set himself along the way. When it came to support it was always donating to the cause and not actually participating because they looked ridiculous! 

Ste made me promise him when I went down to the hospital he was in in Oxford to see him that I would do some challenges  when he got out of hospital after his transplant to get rid of the cancer, Ste was there for months waiting and waiting for a transplant. STE eventually  had the groundbreaking operation and his body was finally rid of the disease, unfortunately Ste’s body rejected the organ and days later he sadly died. He did not die in vein because people are having the operation now and many lives have been saved because of Steve’s bravery. 

He never managed to get out to do any challenges with me but I did do the St Helens 10k run with him in my heart and believe me that was a huge challenge for me!!! I’m not blest with a running phisique, Everest is for you Ste!!!! 

The 16 day trek is to Kala Patthar which is 5,643m high. To give you an idea just how high that is, it’s 4 times higher than Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in the British Isles.

This is going to take some determination to complete – both mentally and physically – but it’s worth every step if it raises money in memory of my mate.

It would be great to get to my target and I am very grateful for every donation, however much you are able to give.

Steve Prescott played Rugby League for St Helens, Hull, Wakefield, Ireland and was a GB Lions Tourist. He set up the charity, the Steve Prescott Foundation, after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2007. After his death in 2013 the charity continued with a board of trustees and committee members.

It donates money to The Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester and Try Assist which supports people whose lives have been affected by serious injuries while playing Rugby League.