ANOTHER inspirational chapter in the story of Steve Prescott’s fearless battle with terminal cancer will unfold over three days in London this week.

Steve, surrounded by his wife, Linzi and their two boys, will be receiving a richly deserved MBE at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Then, to further underline his steely determination, the former Saints full back will pound the streets of the capital on Sunday in the London Marathon, gunning to beat the time he recorded two years ago.

The 36-year-old is being honoured with the MBE for his services to rugby league and his colossal efforts for charity over the past three years.

Speaking ahead of the investiture, he told the Star: “It should be a great occasion and it will be special that I’m surrounded by family.

“It is a great achievement for all the rugby league community that somebody is getting recognition for all the effort that has been put in.

“I never did any of this for the medals; it was because of the kindness shown to me by all the rugby league people and well wishers when I was diagnosed with then illness.

“It made me want to do something to help others, raise awareness of cancer and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (the disease Prescott suffers from) and support the rugby league’s Try Assist fund, which has grown massively.”

Back in the autumn of 2006, Steve was told by doctors he had months to live after being diagnosed with the rare form of cancer, days after his second son, Koby, was born.

But a long operation to remove a huge tumour from his abdomen and subsequent treatment has helped controlled the disease, though it remains incurable.

Helped by squad of fundraisers and the rugby league community, he embarked on a series of punishing fundraising challenges.

These have amassed thousands for the Steve Prescott Foundation, which supports Christie Hospital and Try Assist, rugby league’s benevolent fund.

But he is also sending message of hope to other cancer patients, showing what can be achieved by people with this terrible disease.

On Sunday, running alongside friend Mike Denning (also chairman of the Steve Prescott Foundation and Thatto Heath ARLFC), Steve is aiming to better the time of he recorded when he ran the marathon in 2008.

He added: “Last time I ran in 4hours 32 minutes I was really disappointed because I couldn’t beat the time (4hrs 30) my dad, Eric, set when he ran the marathon.

“If I can better that I will be happy. (But) the training has been tough, and I’ve had some setbacks with being poorly and suffering from sore knees.

“There is a slim chance I could go under four hours – but I’m not sure it’s worth the gamble to go out at that pace.”