Gary McKee from Cumbria, England raised over £1 million for charity by completing his mission to run a marathon every day for a year. He ran 9,563 miles in total.
Before the start of 2022, 53-year-old Gary McKee set himself a goal.
In order to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria charities, he would run a marathon every day of the year. Talk about a new year’s resolution!
Along with attempting to complete 365 marathons, McKee hoped to successfully raise one million pounds for the two organisations. By the end, he surpassed well past that target, raising £1.2 million in donations.
As an employee at Sellafield nuclear site, McKee would run his daily 26.2-mile route before reporting for work as a group leader. He ran 9,563 miles in total and beat down 22 pairs of trainers in the process.
During his journey – completed in sunshine, rain, and snow – McKee was joined by fellow runners who learned of his ambitious mission. For at least 90 of his daily journeys, 29-year-old Chris Young ran alongside him.
Speaking on the process, Young said, ‘Gary ignited a fire in my belly this year when I began running frequently with him. He has given me both physical and mental resilience that I don’t know if I would have ever discovered in myself in a million years.’
On December 31st, the final day of his run, McKee was greeted by supporters who lined the streets cheering for him. Completing this year-long feat joins McKee’s large arsenal of accomplishments.
In the past, he has climbed to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, traversed New Zealand, and run from Land’s End to John o’Groats. He also completed the Three Peaks Challenge in a single day.
This also wasn’t McKee’s first attempt at completing a string of marathons. He previously ran 100 marathons in 100 days, as well as 110 marathons in 100 days. He also completed the London Marathon, running from his home in Cumbria as his starting point.
Representatives of Hospice at Home West Cumbria and Macmillan Cancer Support closely followed McKee throughout the year. The latter shared a tweet about him at the end of the year.
‘Gary McKee has crossed the finish line! A brilliant way to end the year!
Congratulations for completing 365 marathons in 2022, that’s a total of 9,563 miles and raising more than £1,000,000 – a phenomenal feat of grit and sheer determination,’ Macmillan Cancer Support said.
McKee has supported the organisation for twenty years, citing his own father’s cancer diagnosis as the catalyst. Expressing thanks for the support which he called ‘fantastic,’ he added that ‘the support has been phenomenal and it always is. The West Cumbrians get behind us, but cancer affects everybody so it isn’t just a West Cumbrian thing, it’s a national thing.’
Gary McKee has been praised for sprinkling ‘magic on the local community’ and offering ‘immeasurable inspiration’ to a generation of runners everywhere.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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