Star team backing St Helens 10K Luke Forward appeal (From St Helens Star)

Star team backing St Helens 10K Luke Forward appeal

10:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News

A major fundraising appeal to benefit the life of a rugby player, paralysed from the neck down in 1996, will be the inspiration for a Star squad of runners tackling the St Helens 10k.

Luke Bryan, who suffered the devastating injury while playing for Haydock under 18s, will also be the official starter for the run this Sunday, March 10.

The Steve Prescott Foundation appeal, called Luke Forward, aims to fund the construction of a house for the 32-year-old.

It has the backing of the St Helens Star, and we are entering a team – made up of staff from our promotions, advertising and news departments – for the 10k.

Zoe Donoghue, Allen Crawford, Anthony Burns, Jane Ball and Laura Hughes make up the Star’s team – and they have all been putting in the hard miles ready for the big challenge.

News editor Andrew Kilmurray will also be running the 10k for the third time.

Allen, the Star’s advertising manager, said: “We think it’s a great campaign and are delighted to be supporting it.

“The Star covered Luke’s story when he suffered the injury 16 years ago, and we are confident that our readers and advertisers will get on board and lend their support.

“We’re not necessarily the fittest bunch, but we’ve been putting in the miles. We’re determined to get around that course.”

Luke, a former Haydock junior player who uses a ventilator to breathe and a wheelchair to give him mobility, is supported around the clock by carers.

Fifty per cent of donations raised for the Steve Prescott Foundation by runners will be passed on to Try Assist (the Rugby League Benevolent Fund), which will channel it straight to the St Helens-based project.

Former Saints star Steve Prescott, 39, who is currently going through a course of chemotherapy as he continues the fight against the terminal cancer he has battled since 2006, said: “This will be a project that vastly improves Luke’s life and wellbeing.

“If people sign up to run for the foundation they will know that the money they raise is going to this cause. It will be a live project that people will be able to see unfold over this year through the St Helens Star and the SPF.”

You can support the Star’s 10k team by visiting www.justgiving.com/sthelensstar or by texting ‘TENK90 £’ followed by the amount you want to donate, to 70070. For example, text TENK90 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.