Taylor to emulate father in “special” London Marathon bid
Taylor Prescott will retrace the footsteps of his dad when he runs the iconic London Marathon for the first time in 2024, and has called on the public to join him in a monster £15,000 fundraising effort.
The 22 year-old has embarked on a series of gruelling challenges since the loss of inspirational charity fundraiser and rugby league great Steve, who himself ran the world’s most famous marathon three times.
Steve starred for St Helens, Hull FC and Wakefield before taking on a series of incredible challenges following a terminal cancer diagnosis. His super-human feats of endurance raised almost half a million pounds for the Steve Prescott Foundation before his death in 2013.
Taylor has since taken the baton, running 100 miles in just 48 hours in 2021, having also been the trailblazer for the ultra-marathon challenge now being taken on by Kevin Sinfield - running seven ultra-marathons in seven days the previous summer.
Prescott is now ready to tackle London for the first time next April, a challenge he describes as both daunting and exciting, with the opportunity for the public to join in and support a huge factor in his motivation.
“I’m no stranger to marathons having done seven ultras in seven days as well as the Manchester Marathon in 2021, but London is on another level,” he says.
“It’s such a prestigious race, one that I’ve tried to get a place in for the last four years. My dad and my grandad both took part in the London Marathon so it will be special to follow in their footsteps.”
Taylor has revealed the public can join his challenge in three unique ways, built around the St Helens 10k race in March, an event set up by Steve.
“I know how hard it is to secure a place in London so I can’t just ask my friends to tag along and run with me,” he explains.
“That’s why we have come up with the idea to support me from afar and I’m hoping friends and strangers alike can join me from their house, gym, or the streets of their town to give us all the motivation to hit that finish line and raise much-needed funds and awareness, while keeping my dad’s legacy alive.
“I remember going to London to watch dad in 2008 and 2010 and I was able to see him on the route and give him a handful of jelly babies. I can still remember how much it meant to him to see us and what a boost it gave him.
“I hope I see the same support in April and my family are as proud as me as I was of my dad. He ran it three times with a terminal illness, and I will be thinking about that every step of the way when the going gets tough.”
Prescott has revealed there are a number of ways you can join the challenge.
Option 1:
Sign up to run the St Helens 10k with Team Taylor on Sunday March 3rd.
Requirement: Raise £60 and receive a free training T-Shirt and free entry into the St Helens 10k. (Raise £40 if already entered)
Option 2:
Run a 10k every day for 10 Days, finishing with the St Helens 10k.
This can be doing either alongside Taylor as part of his marathon training, or virtually anywhere in the world via Strava.
Requirement: Raise £150 and receive a free training T Shirt & free entry into the St Helens 10k.
Option 3:
The London Marathon:
Run or Row with Taylor for 26.2 miles virtually on London Marathon weekend. This can be as an individual, team of two or team of four.
Requirement: Raise £150 individual / £250 team of 2 / £400 team of 4 and receive a free training vest, medal and certificate.
This latest huge fundraising effort is for the Steve Prescott Foundation, and aims to raise £15,000 for the charity set up by Steve, which supports The Christie cancer hospital and the RFL Benevolent Fund.
For more details on how you can get involved email info@steveprescottfoundation.co.uk
Or contact Martin Blondel 07971792859
Business Sponsorship Available 🙌🏻
You can donate directly to Taylor’s Challenge here
JustGiving.com/page/taylor-prescott01
