100 Marathons, 100 days – with £100k to go til he hits another £1million, Gary ‘Marathon Man MBE’ is off again!
100 Marathons, 100 days
With £100k to go til he hits another £1million, Gary’s off again!
by Danni Murphy
For most people, running a marathon is a once in a lifetime achievement. For Gary McKee, it is just another day and now he’s taking on another extraordinary challenge that could give Forrest Gump a run for his money!
Known to many as Marathon Man, Gary is once again lacing up his trainers in support of Hospice at Home West Cumbria, a charity close to his heart. In 2022, he stunned the country by running a marathon every single day for an entire year, raising more than £1million along the way. Now, he is back and this time he is taking on 100 marathons in 100 days, with one clear aim to raise another £1million and cross the finish line at the London Marathon in April.
As things stand, Gary is just £100,000 short of his target, but with months of running still ahead of him, he is hopeful the community will once again rally behind him.
Hospice at Home West Cumbria provides specialist palliative and end of life care to people across the area, helping patients remain in the comfort of their own homes during their most difficult moments. It is the only adult hospice care provider in West Cumbria, meaning every pound raised by local people stays local, supporting families when they need it most.
The inspiration behind Gary’s seemingly impossible challenges comes much closer to home.
“The whole idea was inspired by my son,” Gary said. “When he was just 10, he ran or walked for 500 consecutive days and raised over £40,000. He always said he would love to do the London Marathon at the first opportunity.”
That opportunity has now arrived. Gary’s son is 18, and this April, the pair will stand side by side on the London Marathon start line, bringing this latest challenge to an emotional close.
“We are both signed up,” Gary added. “He will be doing the 100 days with me, not a full marathon every day, but we will be finishing together in London.”
Most days, Gary’s miles will take him along familiar routes between Cleator Moor, Whitehaven and Rowrah. But there will also be moments designed to bring the wider community right into the heart of the challenge.
One such event will take place at Hensingham Athletic Stadium, where Gary will host what he is calling the Alphabet Marathon.
“It might sound boring just running round a track, but we have made it different. There are 26 letters in the alphabet and 26 miles in a marathon, so people can join in by running a mile when we reach their initial, Alan runs mile one, Ben runs mile two, and so on. Anybody can come along, all ages and abilities are welcome to come give it a go.”
Gary’s mission goes beyond fundraising alone. Throughout the 100 days, he will also be visiting schools, running a mile with pupils and speaking to them about the importance of exercise, perseverance and looking after both body and mind.
And in true Gary fashion, he has added a fun twist to keep things fun and engaging. His Bonkers Bingo fundraiser sees supporters buy a £20 ticket and choose 15 numbers between 1 and 90. Half goes to the charity, half into a prize pot. Every morning before his run, live on Facebook, Gary reveals one number. The first person to match all 15 wins the prize pot, by the end of January, the pot had already topped £3,000 and has grown since then!
After his massive achievement in 2022 Gary was awarded an MBE for his dedication and determination to help a much needed charity. For Gary, though, its not about titles or headlines its about doing something that matters and makes a difference.
Everyone is welcome to join Gary on his runs and many do, he said: “We are happy for anyone to come along and join us,” he said. “Even if it is just for a mile. It is always a good laugh and good craic.”
Those wishing to donate, sponsor Gary, or simply follow his journey can find him on Facebook at Marathon Man MBE, and maybe even lace up their own trainers along the way.
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