Marathon man Gary McKee has received a special send-off from West Cumbria before heading to London to complete his gruelling charity challenge.

His 100 marathons in 100 days feat has seen him run 26.2 miles every day for charity since January 14 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

And the 47-year-old will complete his mammoth challenge when he crosses the finish line of the London Marathon on Sunday.

Before he goes, there was be one last chance for the community to wish him well at Cleator Moor Civic Hall.

Scores of people attended the event.

“It’s to say thank you to all my sponsors and everyone who has supported me,” he said. “Cleator Moor Town Council is involved and the Masons are going to be there. It’s nice to say thank you to people and tell them about my journey so far, the highs and the lows.”

Mr McKee hopes to raise £50,000 for the cancer charity, which he has supported since his father Victor was diagnosed with lung cancer 20 years ago.

He will run his last Cumbrian marathon tomorrow morning in Whitehaven before completing 26 miles in London on Saturday.

“It has gone to plan, I’ve just been taking it day by day. I’ve had plenty of supporters which has worked as diversion therapy and used the same route recently, which people may see as boring but I’m comfortable with it.”

He added: “I’ve had such incredible support so far, with people joining me on my runs to keep my spirits up and cheering me on. But my wife Sue is my biggest supporter and without doubt I couldn’t do any of this without her.”

The runner’s father beat cancer but died in 2003 from an unrelated illness, and since his initial diagnosis his son has climbed mountains, trekked, jumped out of aeroplanes and walked over fire to raise £150,000 for the charity.

He said: “I wanted to do something in my dad’s memory and thought back to that day when we first found out he had cancer.

“It hasn’t been easy but when it gets hard, I think of the promise I made to people affected by cancer – that they’re not fighting alone and I’m fighting with them.

“I’m not a superhero, I’m just an ordinary bloke trying to make a difference to people affected by cancer.”

To sponsor Gary McKee, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Gary-McKee100 .