Posted Under: Charity
Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm |
As we posted quite a few months ago, Matthew Lewis is participating in the Kilimanjaro Challange to raise money for the Steve Prescott Foundation. He has just set up a donation page in an effort to raise £8,000 by the climb in October.
He has written a letter to fans asking for donations, which you can read below. Please head over to Just Giving and help Matt and Nick reach their goal! Each climber aims to raise at least £4000 for the 3 charities of the SPF, the Christie Hospital, Try Assist and the Oxford Transplant Foundation.
Both Nick and I are big Rugby League fans and we’ve followed our team the Leeds Rhinos for many years. Rugby League however is more than just club loyalties and tribalism. It’s a social sport, a game that brings communities together instead of dividing them, for want of a better word, it’s a family. And nobody sums that mentality up more than Steve Prescott.
There are four words in particular that described Stephen Prescott: competitive, resilient, courageous and inspirational. These qualities were prevalent throughout his life, in which sport played a dominant role. To reach the top in Rugby League like Steve did, a fiercely competitive attitude is needed, together with great self-belief and courage. Stephen also had to overcome several set-backs during his sporting career and, in the face of terminal illness, he showed terrific courage and has become an inspirational figure to thousands, not just within the Rugby League community itself.
It was Steve’s plan to scale this beast of a mountain, to be literally on top of the world. But, being Steve, doing it in NINE days was too easy, nah, Steve wanted to do it in FIVE. Three days up and two days down. Sadly, Steve passed away before he could achieve this feat so, we’re gonna take up his mantle and do it on his behalf.
Oh, and in honour of Steve’s spectacular career we’re gonna break a world record whist we are up there too. The highest Rugby League game in the history of mankind…. EVER! A full 80 minute, RFL officiated Rugby League match at 20,000ft. We’ve even dragged ex-professional referee Steve Ganson up with us to do the honours. With his best pal Adrian Morley. What could possibly go wrong?
Now, this is where YOU come in! Nick and I have to raise £8000 for the trip. It’s a daunting task and it’s probably going to be easier climbing the bloody mountain than it will raising the money but every little helps. Anything you can spare will go towards this fantastic cause. With your help and a sprinkle of Steve’s enduring legacy and mentality we might just achieve this and get up that mountain.