Aaron Lee BCAv is a firefighter, former police officer, and community leader whose tireless dedication to service has left an indelible mark on Manchester and beyond. His story is one of resilience, selflessness, and a relentless drive to ensure that those lost in tragedy are never forgotten.
Drilled into Manchester’s DNA is a spirit of unity, defiance, and action—and Aaron embodies that spirit in everything he does. On 22 May 2017, he was among the first responders to the Manchester Arena bombing, witnessing firsthand the devastation that took 22 lives and changed countless others. What he saw that night did not leave him—it propelled him. While others grieved from a distance, Aaron stood beside the families, offering support in the aftermath and ensuring that their loved ones would never fade from memory.
Refusing to let the tragedy be reduced to the past, he took action. Aaron founded the Manchester Remembers Foundation, which raises money for charities set up in memory of the victims, ensuring that their legacies continue to create opportunities for young people in music, the arts, and sport. His fundraising efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary. To date, he has raised over £200,000, funding bursaries, youth projects, and support services—a living, breathing testament to Manchester’s refusal to be broken.
His work has been as personal as it is powerful. Aaron completed 22 ten-kilometre races, each dedicated to a victim, raising thousands in their honour. Every race medal was engraved with the name of a victim and presented to their family as a mark of remembrance. The final race, completed in Manchester, was his most gruelling yet—run in full firefighter uniform, including breathing apparatus, carrying over 30kg on his back in tribute to those lost.
Aaron’s ability to bring people together is unmatched. In 2022, he co-organised the “Manchester Remembers” celebrity football match, enlisting high-profile names such as Sam Allardyce, Joe Royle, Jason Manford, and Paddy McGuinness to help raise funds and awareness. The event drew national attention, proving that Manchester stands together—not just in grief, but in action, in rebuilding, in remembrance.
Manchester’s sense of community does not exist in words alone—it is something that must be lived, protected, and upheld. Aaron has taken this responsibility upon himself, founding the Hive 22 Running Club, which has grown to over 2,000 members worldwide, using running as a vehicle for remembrance and resilience. Every step taken by a Hive 22 runner carries forward the legacy of those lost.
His unwavering commitment to service has earned him the British Citizen Award (BCAv), a recognition that speaks to the profound impact he has made—not just through his work as a firefighter, but through his ability to unite people in the face of tragedy.
Aaron Lee BCAv is more than a first responder—he is a guardian of Manchester’s spirit, a leader who ensures that memory turns into action, grief into progress, and loss into legacy. Through his relentless efforts, he has proven that Manchester is not defined by its tragedies, but by the extraordinary individuals who rise in their wake to rebuild, remember, and inspire.
About Frameworthy
Frameworthy is an uplifting and powerful exhibition series celebrating those making the greatest difference—changemakers—through art. Held throughout the UK and further afield in iconic arts-related and cultural venues, Frameworthy exhibitions and art shows are unique and inspiring occasions where changemakers from all backgrounds come together, mingling in front of art that honours them, alongside dignitaries, the press, and fellow changemakers.
Through powerful storytelling, breathtaking art, and unforgettable exhibitions, Frameworthy celebrates impact, community, and the beauty of cultural spaces. Each portrait is created at no cost to the changemaker, ensuring that those shaping our world are recognised in the timeless medium of art.
More than just an exhibition, Frameworthy is a joyful, diverse, and meaningful celebration—where changemakers, remarkable venues, and the communities they serve are honoured and uplifted.
Discover more about Frameworthy’s exhibitions and the people we celebrate here.
