English rugby league star underwent five transplants to save lives just weeks before he died

This is a remarkable act of courage and giving.

Steve Prescott lived a full life during his 39 years on earth. The St Helen's native had a successful rugby league career, appeared in a World Cup with Ireland, bravely battled cancer for seven years and set up a charitable foundation that raised over £500,000 for cancer research and support by the time of his death, in 2013. Having played for St Helens, Hull FC and Wakefield, as well as both England and Ireland [at the 2000 World Cup], Prescott's career was ended by injury in 2004. Two years later he was diagnosed with cancer [pseudomyxoma peritonei]. He battled it until his death, in November 2013, but also found time to dedicate himself to fundraising and raising awareness of the disease. Posthumously, the RFL's 'Man of Steel' accolade for the league's hardiest player was renamed the 'Steve Prescott Man of Steel' award. In a touching interview with the BBC, Steve's widow, Linzi, reveals that her husband underwent 32 hours of surgery, which included five separate transplants, just three weeks before he died. She commented: 'After diagnosis Steve changed as a person and it moulded the person he became. He turned his sights to helping other people 'He went through what he went through for somebody else and not for nothing, really.'