THERE are so many inspirational stories that come out from the St Helens 10k every year.

From people who have fought illness and adversity, to the charity supporters who pound the tarmac and take on North Road to help others and raise awareness.

However this year, one story stood out.

Many of us know the story of how former rugby league player Steve Prescott died in 2013 after complications following a pioneering operation to treat a rare form of abdominal cancer, called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP).

The surgery, called a Multi Visceral Transplant, saw surgeons undertake a simultaneous transplant of multiple organs, including the liver, small intestine, pancreas, the stomach and part of the large intestine.

Even though that surgery did not ultimately lead to Steve’s life being extended, lessons from that operation have helped doctors to successfully treat others – and on Sunday, two of the transplant survivors ran the St Helens 10k together.

The first success story of the surgery pioneered by Steve and the surgeons was Adam Alderson.

Adam, from Wensleydale, was given days to live in 2015. He was the same age as Steve when he was diagnosed with the same form of cancer. The disease was at the same stage and he was told he had no options.

But because of Steve, he knew he had one, and booked in to meet the same surgeons.

Three years later, after undergoing a successful 17 hour operation, Adam is alive. After three years of being cancer free, he took on the St Helens 10k with pride on Sunday.

Civil Engineer, Adam, 40, said: “I’m a tough Yorkshire lad so I don’t give up easily.

“Despite the fact we were told I had at most three days left to live and was given palliative care I remembered what Steve had done and moved everything to make sure I could meet his surgeons; I even went all the way to see them in an ambulance.

“We were the same age and at the same stage, but I was lucky that Steve had given me hope.

“The surgeons said I was a good candidate and after 17 hours and eight organ transplants in one go by more than 30 surgeons on rotation I’m here – and that is because of Steve Prescott.

“After Steve, two others had this operation but it did not work for them sadly. Now there are 16 in total who have had this operation. I’m the first long term success story and on Sunday I ran with another, Reza Khosravi, who is only 18 months post surgery.

“Some might see what happened to me as unlucky, but meeting Linzi and becoming close friends with her and others at the SPF and becoming a key note speaker has all happened because of what happened.

“I took part in the 10k years ago and have taken on many challenges with the SPF as a way to give back, but nothing quite compares to stepping over his plaque on the Steve Prescott Bridge knowing I’m here because of him.

“I don’t know if that operation gave me 30 years or three, but none of us really know when we are going to go, but I know it gave me a chance at life and now I live mine to the fullest.”

For more on Adam follow him on twitter at @AdamAlderson3