Steve Prescott, the 35-year-old former Great Britain full-back who has raised more than £180,000 for charity despite battling cancer, is the 2009 winner of the Rugby League Writers Association Merit Award.

Prescott, who was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in 2006, received the award at the RLWA annual dinner in Manchester.

The ex-St Helens, Hull and Wakefield star launched the Steve Prescott Foundation to raise money for the Christies Cancer Hospital and the RL Benevolent Fund, now known as Try Assist.

He has run the London Marathon and took part in a gruelling triathlon in August which included a 900-mile cycle ride through France, a 24-mile dragon boat paddle down the River Thames and a half-marathon run to Wembley to deliver the match ball on Challenge Cup final day.