A WEST Cumbrian man mingled with royalty at a prestigious garden party hosted by the King and Queen.
Chris Young, of Cleator Moor, was selected to attend the event at Buckingham Palace following his work on mental health, particularly in the workplace.
It comes after he was awarded Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to positive safety culture and to male mental health in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.
Chris Young and mum Dawn Southey outside Buckingham Palace (Image: Submitted)
The 32-year-old has raised nearly £100,000 for charity and completed a number of marathons for good causes after struggling with his own mental health.
Chris ran 30 marathons every day for a month to mark his 30th birthday and raised thousands of pounds for Hospice at Home West Cumbria and Hearts of Gold West Cumbria.
He also ran 84 miles to mark World Suicide Prevention Day which raised more than £11,000 for Carlisle and Eden Mind.
Chris, who is a health physics monitor at Sellafield, works alongside the Apprentice Council and has inspired Sellafield apprentices to do positive work in the community.
Chris Young, pictured with mum Dawn Southey, said it was ‘surreal’ to be at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party (Image: Submitted)
He will receive his BEM at Muncaster Castle from Alexander Scott, the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, on Friday.
Chris and his mum, Dawn Southey, attended Buckingham Palace, where the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also present at a garden party held last week.
“Attending Buckingham Palace was a surreal experience, in honesty,” Chris said. “It allowed me a rare opportunity to actually recognise what I’d achieved. I don’t allow myself to get wrapped up in personal achievement or awards as it isn’t what I do it for.
“The main thing I’ve been grateful for through the nomination and getting to go there was the opportunity to spend three wonderful days with my mum!
“Mum was immensely proud, as you can imagine. The best thing that has come out of all of this on a personal level is the opportunity to make my family and friends proud and share moments such as Buckingham Palace and the presentation of the award this week.”
Chris Young has been recognised for his mental health work (Image: Submitted)
A tradition which dates back to Queen Victoria, garden parties allow members of the Royal Family to meet people in public service, voluntary or community work and thank them for their dedication and service to their communities.
Over the course of each year, more than 30,000 guests are invited to spend a relaxed summer afternoon in the gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.