“Humbling,” is how Gary McKee describes being named an MBE. The Cleator Moor fundraiser, widely known in West Cumbria as Marathon Man, has been recognised for services to charity and to his hometown.

His honour appears on the official 2026 New Year Honours list published on 29 December 2025, with Sellafield confirming the news today, Monday 5 January 2026.

McKee’s fundraising story is already local folklore. In 2022 he ran 365 marathons in 365 days, often heading out before shifts at Sellafield, and raised more than £1 million for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

Over more than two decades he has pushed his total beyond £2 million and says the reaction to the MBE has been overwhelming, with messages pouring in from across Cumbria and beyond.

“His determination and sheer grit are inspiring,” said Roddy Miller, chief operating officer at Sellafield, as colleagues paid tribute to a teammate who continues to pull the community together.

Later this month McKee begins his next test: 100toLDN. From Saturday 17 January to Sunday 26 April, he plans to run 100 marathons in 100 days, finishing at the London Marathon alongside his son, Beau, to raise funds for Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

The target is clear: raise £100,000 to take his hospice fundraising to the £1 million mark. It is a practical goal with a simple ask-back the hospice that supports families across West Cumbria when they need it most.

Most of those daily miles will set off from Cleator Moor, with days around West Cumbria so schools, clubs and small businesses can join him for stretches and keep spirits high.

McKee also serves as a Vice President of Hospice at Home West Cumbria, a role he took on in 2023, reflecting the close bond between the runner and the charity he champions.

For anyone keen to support, the 100toLDN JustGiving page is live. McKee’s message stays the same: the miles matter, but it’s the community running alongside that makes the difference.