MOTIVATED fundraisers have collectively ran half way around the world as they support Hospice at Home West Cumbria and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Gary McKee of Cleator Moor is on the final stretch of a mammoth endurance challenge in which he is running 110 marathons in 110 days.

And his efforts have lit a spark in others as Inspired to Move, a Facebook group of people getting outdoors and out of their comfort zones, has been set up off the back of his efforts.

Gary is proud of how the message has been received, he said: “The fundraising’s fantastic it’s great, we’re fundraising for people who really need it but we’re also inspiring people to get out themselves.”

The Inspired to Move page has seen people of all ages, genders and fitness levels, getting outside and taking part in more exercise than they were before, regardless of how strenuous.

Gary said: “It’s just showing them what’s out there and what can be achieved.

“It’s just about getting out there and doing something, something’s better than nothing.

“When you think about what we’ve gone through with Covid, it was a dark place.”

But the message is being spread far and wide that people can be doing more than they are.

“There’s a lot of people in that Inspired to Move group now that are further afield than Cumbria.”

The campaign has been a major group effort. Gary has been joined on his runs by fellow fundraisers Kevin Hetherington and Michael Watson.

Gary paid tribute to Elwyn Evans who has joined him as a photographer on his runs and Amy Caddy who has helped with social media, he said that both have been “integral” to getting the word out.

Rugby league fans Alan Murray and Martyn Wilson have recently completed a 66 mile marathon in aid of Mind and they joined Gary on one of his runs for moral support.

Gary said: “The pair of them came out with me a few weeks ago. When they saw what we’re doing it just lifted their spirits, they cracked on and got through it.” Alan and Martyn are finishing their own campaign by auctioning off Workington Town and Whitehaven RL shirts in aid of Mind, Hospice at Home and Macmillan Cancer Support.

“It’s all the little things that add up to the big prize pot” said Gary.