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: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:55 am

Dragon Boat Channel crossing for Carnegie Challenge
The Steve Prescott Foundation is set to unveil its latest fundraising challenge as part of a new partnership with Carnegie Challenge Cup sponsors, Leeds Metropolitan University.
Steve and a star-studded team of ex-professionals will undertake the Carnegie Challenge Cup Challenge to run along this year’s tournament, embarking on a 700 mile bike ride across France before crossing the channel in a dragon boat and running a half marathon to deliver the match ball to Wembley in time for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final in August.
Participants from Rugby League include Paul Sculthorpe, Kris Radlinski, Chris Joynt, Steve Hampson, Gary Connolly, Anthony Sullivan, Steve Prescott, Terry O’Connor, Chris Smith Steve Hall, and Lee Jackson. Jimmy Gittins and Pete Stephenson, who both sustained career-ending injuries, will also take part on a specially adapted Quad bike designed to help them complete the challenge.
Additionally the Carnegie Challenge Cup ball will be taken to each televised match by the participants beginning next week with a journey from St Helens to Leeds for the Leeds Rhinos v St Helens 4th round tie.
Peter Rodgers, Dean of Sporting Partnerships at Leeds Metropolitan University said: “We recognise that Steve Prescott himself and the activities of the Steve Prescott Foundation are inspirational to a diverse range of people in and outside of the game of rugby league. We share values with the SPF of community support, rising to the challenge and excellence in all that we do. Supporting the SPF is another example of our place in the rugby league family and fits with our ethos of providing opportunities for volunteering and for learning from and being inspired by champions.”
“We are keen to help SPF to deliver this tremendous event and to celebrate the achievements of all those who take part. This year the SPF are going beyond their traditional boundaries and this is something that we as a university always look to encourage and support at every opportunity.”
Speaking of the challenge, Steve Prescott added: “It’s going to be really tough for all of us. I thought doing the London Marathon was hard, but this is three challenges rolled into one! We are talking about over 80 miles a day for over a week on our bikes and then we cross the English Channel in a dragon boat. To think that we have to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in one of those, you don’t realise how small and vulnerable it is! Obviously we are going to have to contend with some swell and waves so whether it capsizes or not depends on the weather and a bit of luck really. The training is going well at the moment, we are getting our co-ordination together but the stamina part will be the real test. Lifting your arms up pushing and pulling for hours on end will be a tremendous challenge. It’s great for the guys who are training us to give up their time and the facilities at the Queen’s Dock in Liverpool are fantastic. I have really enjoyed the past few weeks of training. Occasionally you catch the top of the water and splash somebody and I just can’t stop laughing! Mind you, as the mileage increases over the next few weeks perhaps the laughs won’t come as easily - who knows! It’s also fantastic to be joined by Jimmy (Gittins) and Pete (Stephenson), who show incredible enthusiasm and determination. They are an inspiration for us all.
Ends

For further details please contact Mark Dorey in Communications at Leeds Met on 0113 812 5935 or email m.dorey@leedsmet.ac.uk

Notes for editors:

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 Steve Prescott Foundation was then created to raise money for two charities, which were close to Steve’s Heart, The Christie Cancer Hospital and the RFL Benevolent Fund, which helps sick and injured Rugby League Players.
The Long Walk Home was the first Event organised for the Foundation, it was a 200-mile walk, involving all the Super League Clubs within the M62 Corridor. It was a huge success with £60,000 raised. Since then the Foundation has expanded and at the moment we have given over £150,000 to the Charities raised through events such as Rugby Legends Boxing each other to Steve completing the London Marathon.
Steve at the moment is still undergoing intense Chemotherapy but this does not stop him from trying impossible feats, he pushes his body to the limits and the Carnegie Challenge Cup Challenge is his next target.