FORMER Rugby League star Steve Prescott, who is battling cancer, has finally left hospital after almost seven weeks.
Friends and family had grown very concerned as the inspirational fundraiser's health continued to deteriorate.
But in typical style, Steve has battled back and returned home yesterday.
He has pledged to continue his fight to find a cure for his rare form of cancer, despite his poor health.
The former Hull full-back had been in hospital due to complications associated with the rare form of abdominal cancer.
Steve was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in 2006.
Martin Blondel, friend and secretary of the Steve Prescott Foundation, is relieved Steve has finally been allowed to return home.
He said: "His family and friends are made up he's out.
"He has finally come back home and, hopefully, he can relax.
"He has lost an awful lot of weight.
"He would have been home last Thursday but he got a kidney infection."
Mr Blondel believes Steve will now look to regain his fitness.
He said: "Steve has been in bed for 48 days so he will need to regain strength in his legs.
"He will be able to potter about now.
"He will want to get as fit as he can and he will no doubt go back to the gym."
Doctors have told Steve he will not be able to eat or drink properly until a cure is found by scientists at specialist cancer hospital, The Christie.
Steve, who also played for St Helens and Wakefield, has appealing for people to continue to support the Steve Prescott Foundation.
He has completed a number of physical feats during his fundraising exploits.
This includes an 837-mile trek from Catalans Dragons' ground in Perpignan, France, to Wembley Stadium, cycling more than 800 miles, rowing 24 miles and completing a 13-mile run in less than two weeks.
But he has been told he will never be able to take part in any of the extreme challenges again.
But Mr Blondel believes you cannot underestimate Steve.
He said: "You can never rule him out of anything.
"When you see what he has gone through and how he has bounced back, you realise anything is possible."
All planned fundraising initiatives for 2013 will go ahead as planned, with Steve's friends and former team-mates taking up the mantle until he gets stronger.
Chris Joynt and Dave Lyon will lead a Scoffs Outside SPF team of ten in September's Great North Run, and Paul Sculthorpe will head a team of 13 climbers on the Engage Mutual SPF Kilimanjaro Challenge between August 27 and September 3.
