By Rachael grealish
Cumbria’s Marathon Man has officially started the 171-mile Grand To Grand Ultra and it’s been revealed he finished Stage 1 in the top ten.
Gary McKee is currently in the US to take on the enormous challenge of making it from the Grand Canyon, in Arizona on September 24, and finishing at the Grand Staircase, in Utah, on September 30 – all in order to raise money for Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
The Grand To Grand Ultria is a self-supported footrace, meaning participants must run the duration carrying all of their supplies, equipment and food.
The first stage of the race has now been completed with 51 runners setting off for the first 30.8 miles (49.6km) with Gary finishing in the top ten runners, according to the preliminary results.
The 52-year-old, along with his fellow runners, had to trek through temperatures reaching 29C (84F) as they made their way around the striking Vermillion Cliffs of the Grand Canyon.
Runners encountered wildlife such as condor birds and rattlesnakes as well as the iconic cacti and western tumbleweed throughout their journey.
Gary is taking part in the footrace in order to raise money for Hospice at Home West Cumbria and he’s already reached 121 per cent of his £5,000 target.
Gary Mckee said “I was contacted by the organisers of the Grand to Grand to see if I’d be interested in taking part in this year’s race. It was a race I’d never heard about but when I looked into it, I was amazed.
“I will be self-supported for the duration of the run carrying all of my supplies, equipment and food so I will have to carefully weigh everything out before I go. It’s a huge challenge, but I’m looking forward to taking it on! It’s a fantastic opportunity and supporting a good cause which is very close to my heart”.
The 52-year-old is no novice when it comes to gruelling physical challenges as in the past 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.
For anyone wanting to show their support and sponsor Gary please visit his JustGiving page https://bit.ly/3KvCdoK
THE HERDWICK NEWS 