An ultra-marathon runner is planning to run to all Merseyrail stations, including those in Meols, Hoylake and West Kirby, as part of a massive charity effort.
Fundraising officer Alex Rigby, hopes to raise over £35,000 for local domestic abuse charity, Centre 56 by taking on the unique challenge on Friday 28 February.
His 107-mile route will cover the full Merseyrail Network, visiting all 69 stations on the Wirral and Northern Lines, beginning in Chester at 3pm, before finishing at Hunts Cross.
The run, which Alex describes as his toughest challenge yet, follows a 60-mile ultra marathon taking in all Merseyrail’s Northern line stations, which he successfully completed in 2024.
Centre 56 has supported families for more than 50 years. The charity provides specialist nursery care for children aged 2-12 years who have experienced domestic abuse or crisis situations.
Alex said: “Centre 56 is such an amazing place doing vital work to support families that have experienced domestic abuse and crisis across the communities we serve.
“I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the incredible difference that donations can make for the families we support, and that’s why I’m doing this challenge! My feet will hurt, my legs will ache, but it’ll be worth it to make sure that families have money on the metre, food in the cupboards, and someone to turn to when things get hard.”
Throughout February, posters featuring challenge information will go live on screens across the Merseyrail network encouraging customers travelling by train to scan a QR code and donate.
In addition to this, members of the Merseyrail team are also in training to take part in the run, with volunteers including Managing Director Neil Grabham, who will join Alex as he runs past Centre 56.
Neil said: “Merseyrail’s Charity of the Year programme has raised over £1m for good causes in our communities since it launched. Last year, this included raising over £30,000 for Centre 56 as we supported Alex in running to every station on our Northern lines.”
“We are delighted to be able to offer our support again, as Alex tackles an astonishing challenge, to run the entire length of our network in just over a day. The whole team at Merseyrail are 100% behind Alex and many of us will join him in pulling on our running shoes for this vital local cause.”
Centre 56 Nursery Support Manager, Paula Graves, said: “What Alex plans to do is unbelievable, and we’re so grateful to have him as part of our team bringing so much awareness to Centre 56.
“Please do support him with this challenge if you can so that we can help little ones, and their families build futures that are free from abuse.”
To find out more about the challenge or donate, visit Centre 56’s website https://centre56.org.uk/running-the-railways/
