Seventeen-year-old Marcus — known as The Hull Boy — will switch on Hull's Christmas lights in Queen Victoria Square at 18:45 GMT on 20 November, joining Lord Mayor Cheryl Payne. In June he ran the full length of the UK and raised over £160,000 for the mental health charity Mind. He later received a Pride of Britain Special Recognition award and has spoken publicly about using running to help cope with his own mental health challenges.
Teenage Fundraiser 'The Hull Boy' to Switch On Hull's Christmas Lights on 20 November
Seventeen-year-old Marcus — known as The Hull Boy — will switch on Hull's Christmas lights in Queen Victoria Square at 18:45 GMT on 20 November, joining Lord Mayor Cheryl Payne. In June he ran the full length of the UK and raised over £160,000 for the mental health charity Mind. He later received a Pride of Britain Special Recognition award and has spoken publicly about using running to help cope with his own mental health challenges.
10:25 PM, 11/13/2025Society
The Hull Boy to switch on Hull's Christmas lights
Seventeen-year-old Marcus — known online as The Hull Boy — will officially switch on Hull's Christmas lights in Queen Victoria Square on 20 November.
In June, Marcus became the youngest person to run the full length of the UK, raising more than £160,000 for the mental health charity Mind. He has spoken openly about his own struggles with mental health and says he took up running to help manage his symptoms.
In October he received a Pride of Britain Special Recognition award for his fundraising and for his online work raising awareness of mental health issues.
The lighting ceremony will take place at 18:45 GMT on 20 November. Marcus will join Lord Mayor Cheryl Payne to turn on the lights, and a fireworks display is planned to follow the switch-on.
"It's an honour for me and my family to be asked to turn on the lights. I've seen it on the television for years. It means the world to us and I cannot wait," Marcus said.
Marcus, from Malton in North Yorkshire, earned his nickname because he is a fan of Hull City football club.