Cumbria’s Marathon Man Gary McKee is inviting the local community to lace up their trainers and join him this weekend as his 100toLDN challenge enters its final stages.
Gary has now raised over £53,000 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria as he continues his challenge of running 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days.
In less than two weeks’ time, he will complete his 100th marathon at the 2026 London Marathon alongside his 18-year-old son Beau.
To mark the final weekend of West Cumbrian runs, special events have been organised to give supporters the opportunity to run alongside Gary and show their support for the cause.
On Saturday, supporters are invited to join Gary for a celebratory gathering at Ennerdale Brewery at 10am, before Sunday’s unique alphabet marathon at Copeland Stadium in Hensingham, where participants can get involved in an inclusive run suitable for all ages from 9am.
The 100toLDN challenge began on January 17, with Gary running 26.2 miles every day across West Cumbria, often joined by members of the public, running clubs, schools and community groups along the way.
More than 4,000 schoolchildren have run with Gary during the challenge, while countless others have organised their own fundraising activities to support Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gary said: “This is the last Saturday we’ll be running on the cyclepath, so it will be a special one.
“I’m really looking forward to the alphabet marathon at the athletics stadium on Sunday and hoping lots of people will come along and get involved, whatever their age or ability.
“The support over the past few months has been incredible. I’ve still got a few more schools to visit and so far I’ve run with more than 4,000 schoolchildren, which has been a real highlight.
“We’ve also had brilliant encouragement from runners, cyclists and people organising their own events to help spread the word about the fantastic work Hospice at Home West Cumbria does.
“We’ve now passed £53,000, which is amazing, and we are getting closer to that £100,000 target. Every bit of support makes a difference.”
Hayley McKay, director of funding and communications at Hospice at Home West Cumbria, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Gary and Beau for their determination, commitment and tireless fundraising efforts.
“Raising over £50,000 is a fantastic milestone, and every pound will make a lasting difference to the care and support we provide to local families.
“We would encourage the community to come along this weekend to show their support as Gary takes on the final stages of this remarkable challenge.”
Hospice at Home West Cumbria provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people across the region, supporting individuals and families when they need it most.
Find out more or donate by visiting 100toLDN.com
