Leeds Rhinos star with inspiring message for Wigan Warriors fan after amazing fundraising effort
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paul Greenwood/Shutterstock 12812542k James Donaldson of Leeds Rhinos is tackled by Kai Pearce-Paul and Morgan Smithies of Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos, Betfred Super League, Rugby League, DW Stadium, Wigan, UK - 18 Feb 2022 Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos, Betfred Super League, Rugby League, DW Stadium, Wigan, UK - 18 Feb 2022 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xPaulxGreenwood/Shutterstockx 12812542k
Rugby league has deep roots with community with the amateur game being so important to so many individuals but also the professional game having brilliant outreach programmes across their own local areas and a key aspect to this is charity work.
2022 has arguably been one of the best examples for the rugby league family uniting behind charitable campaigns with Kevin Sinfield’s brilliant efforts to raise awareness and ultimately money to fund research for Motor Neurone Disease topping £7 million in donations and culminating in the recognition of both his and former teammate, Rob Burrow’s, battles to raise awareness at the Sports Personality of the Year awards.
One man who Sinfield himself has joined in their own personal challenge is Gary McKee, the so-called Marathon Man, who is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria, both brilliant cancer charities and has concluded it today.
McKee completed 110 marathons in 110 days in 2021 but set himself the challenge of one marathon every single day in 2022, thus 365 in 365.
👏 Good Luck to ‘Marathon Man’ and Wigan fan, Gary McKee who will complete his 365th Marathon in 365 days today!
There’s still time to donate in support of Gary’s fantastic feat 👇#WWRL https://t.co/JIVA62lTHG
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) December 31, 2022
As such members of the rugby league community are getting behind him to try see a surge to help him reach the £1,000,000 that he aimed for and Leeds Rhinos star James Donaldson has been the latest to support the Wigan Warriors fan.
He said on Twitter:
“Massive congratulations, 365 marathons in 365 days. I still can’t believe you’ve actually done it, I can’t imagine what you’ve put your body, your mind and everything else through.
“You’ve blown it out of the park. Absolutely amazing, I did five with you and I thought that was tough.
“It was unbelievable, so proud of you and everyone from Cumbria is.”