COPIES of the late Hull FC star Steve Prescott's heartrending autobiography, which tells of his long battle with cancer and "superhuman" fundraising efforts, are flying off the shelves.
Mr Prescott, who died last November, aged 39, raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity through gruelling challenges.
Following the launch of One In A Million: My Story – Steve Prescott MBE, at the Challenge Cup Final, held at Wembley Stadium at the end of last month, about 5,000 copies have been sold.
It has held top spot in the rugby league category of online retailer Amazon's book charts, while all 250 copies supplied to Hull FC's city centre shop have sold out.
Martin Blondel, secretary of the Steve Prescott Foundation – set up by the star shortly after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2006 – said sales of the book have been "phenomenal".
He said: "It is testament to Steve's popularity and character that the book is doing so well.
"Because of the physical challenges Steve was doing, a lot of people didn't realise how ill he was.
"Only now do people fully appreciate that what he did was superhuman."
Mr Blondel, who was today delivering another 250 copies to the Hull FC shop, said he was deeply moved by the book's content.
He said: "Steve began writing the book in 2007 and I was privileged to have read many of the chapters.
"But I read the complete book a week before its general release.
"One day I was parked-up outside hospital, where I was waiting for a relative who was having kidney dialysis treatment, when I opened the book and read the part about my wedding.
"It was August 10 last year and it was Steve's last public appearance. Steve was my best man.
"I knew at the time that it was a such an effort for him to be there, but I have to say I broke down reading that. I was crying my eyes out."
Mr Blondel urged Mr Prescott's supporters to resist the temptation of buying a cut-price copy of the book online.
"I am aware the book is on sale for £11.99 from some retailers," he said. "Steve's family will benefit from the sales of this book so I ask that people buy the book, which is priced £17.99, from the Steve Prescott Foundation, or Hull FC or Hull KR shops."
Mr Prescott, who was dad to Taylor, 12, and Koby, seven, finished working on the manuscript a few weeks before he died at an Oxford hospital.
His widow, Linzi, wrote the final two chapters.
