Pensioner marathon runner Ray waits for awards news

Ray crosses the finish line of his 75 marathon in as many days in September 2016

Ray, who raised more than £30,000 for Newman School by running 75 marathons in 75 days to celebrate his 75th birthday, is in the running for two Yorkshire Choices Awards.

The grandad-of-three has been nominated in the local fundraiser of the year and sporting achievement categories, which will be presented at a ceremony in Leeds in April.

Online voting closed last week and Ray now faces an anxious wait to see if he can add them to his list of awards.

Ray, of Maltby, was presented with a British Citizen Award for his services to the community at the Palace of Westminster in January.

He said: “I feel honoured to even be nominated because there are some really big hitters who I’m up against.

“In the sporting achievement category, there are professional sportsmen and women and Olympians.

“The awards are voted for by the public online and Ray faces competition from Olympic triathletes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee and Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft.”

The Advertiser is calling for Ray to be knighted as part of our Arise Sir Ray campaign.

We have sent on support letters and coupons to the Cabinet Office who said they “would ensure that they were taken into account when the case was considered”.