Danny Quigley said receiving the Freedom of the City will spur him on to continue working to promote awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
Mr Quigley said becoming a Freeman was also a moment he will forever treasure following the special ceremony at the Guildhall on Monday.
The huge honour means the endurance athlete joins a small and distnguished list of recipents including former Bishops of Derry, the late Most Rev Dr Edward Daly, and the Most Rev Dr James Mehaffey; Dr. Tom McGinley, of the Foyle Hospice, Nobel Laureate John Hume and Derry City’s treble winning manager Jim McLaughlin.