Brave cancer fighter triumphs in Johnny Vegas Bowls event

The Barton’s Pickles Johnny Vegas Celebrity Bowls was held, this time as part of the first St Helens Gala, taking place at the Dentons Green venue on Sunday.

Organised by the Steve Prescott Foundation, Woolyback Productions and Ruskin St Helens, the event saw a host of celebrities from sport and television attending.

And in the bowls event Steve Lang triumphed alongside Sam Aston, who plays the long-running role of Chesney in Coronation Street, after taking on ex-Saints player and actor Adam Fogerty and Dave Spectre in a well-fought final.

READ > Hundreds enjoy sporting classics at St Helens Gala Fest

The likes of ex-Everton footballer Peter Reid, Saints captain James Roby, Johnny Vegas, St Helens-born Corrie star Jude Riordan and former Great Britain rugby league captain Paul Sculthorpe were among those who took part in the bowls event, held in memory of Johnny Vegas' late dad Lol Pennington.

Winning duo: Steve, with Sam Aston (Image: Kevin Humphries)

Steve, who was diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in 2015, has shown great determination, completing fundraising challenges since his diagnosis and is currently in remission.

Steve, 53, was almost paired with a different celebrity at the last minute before his playing partner Sam arrived and they went on to become the winning partnership.

"The whole day was really good and it was played in the right spirit and a bit of a laugh," said Steve, who travelled from Clevelys, Lancashire.

"In the final we we got off to a good start and managed to get some good ends in. 

"Sam was such a nice fellow and he thanked me for bidding to play with him."

Steve Lang, with Johhny Vegas (Image: Kevin Humphries)

"I've had a lot of treatment for that. I am on a trial, and thankfully it is working and over the years I have raised money for different charities and for myself," added Steve, who has completed London Marathons and Great North Run.

"I have been on Twitter for a number of years and I follow Johnny Vegas, and started to play bowls a couple of years ago, and when I saw about it, and said to my wife Chesney from Coronation Street was in it, she said 'you've got to go for that'.

"I met some really nice people, it couldn't have gone any better."  

After the bowling event, Johnny Vegas, said: "Everybody tuns up, turns out and creates a fantastic day of it. I think Steve (Prescott) and Lol are smiling on us today, thanks everyone for coming and thanks everyone for taking part."