By Rachael Grealish

Cumbria’s Marathon Man, Gary McKee has said he is ‘humbled’ to receive the British Citizen Award for services to the community.

The 53-year-old is one of only 26 people to receive the British Citizen Award in June 2023 for his 20 years of charity work, fundraising and ‘encouraging an active lifestyle to over 1500 in the local community’.

Throughout 2022 Gary ran a marathon (or more) every day to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria and managed to fundraise over £1 million.

This isn’t his only feat as over the past two decades Gary has completed 100 marathons in 100 days, 110 marathons in 110 days, cycled through Brazil, climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked through New Zealand, jumped out of aeroplanes, walked across hot coals and rowed the equivalent distance of the English Channel (and then back), ran from Lands End to John ‘O’ Groats, ran, walked and cycled the C2C, and ran the three peaks.

Gary told The Herdwick News: “It’s obviously an honour to receive any award and I was taken aback when I was told about the BCA. It’s quite humbling, to be honest, and a reflection on not just me but the efforts of everyone who’s been involved in the challenges we have done over the last 20 years.”

On Thursday, June 29, all 26 recipients of the award will be presented with them at Westminster Palace. The British Citizen Award in partnership with One Stop, is now in its ninth year and recognises an elite group of exceptional individuals twice annually.

A spokesperson for BCA said: “The June 2023 cohort of medalists each receive the BCA Medal of Honour as a legacy for their commitment to others and richly deserve the right to use the letters BCA after their name in perpetual recognition of the nation’s gratitude.”

This isn’t the only award Gary has received for his outstanding work, as earlier this year he was named one of 500 Coronation Champions by King Charles III and was appointed Hospice at Home West Cumbria’s new vice president.