A charity runner will complete a strenuous 56-mile challenge to reach every station on the network’s Northern Line in less than 11 hours. Merseyrail is urging supporters to cheer him on.
Alex Rigby, the fundraising officer at Centre 56, is aiming to raise £20,000 for the charity on Saturday, February 10, through his ultra-marathon challenge.
For over 50 years, families in Kirkdale have found refuge and hope at Centre 56. The nonprofit organisation offers specialised creche services to children ages 0 to 12 who have been victims of domestic violence or emergency situations.
With supporters and fundraisers stationed at stations along the route, preparations are now well under way to assist Alex during the event. In an effort to support Alex as he crosses the finish line, a huge welcome is also scheduled for the last station, Kirkdale, at 17:30.
Alex, who is already an avid runner, has been preparing for the task since September 2023 and predicts it will take him about 11 hours to finish.
Alex said:
“I wanted to do a challenge that was unique. I was getting the train one day and started wondering how long it would take to run to all the stations. Now we’ll find out!
“I’m delighted that along the way we’ve been able to build this relationship with Merseyrail, who have been a fantastic support.”
Sally Ralston BEM, Merseyrail’s Community Involvement Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Alex in this monumental challenge. It’s going to be incredibly tough for him, so he’ll get plenty of support along the way from our stations team and members of the public.
“Centre 56 is a charity that is close to the hearts of many of the staff who work at Merseyrail. It does some amazing work in the community, and this is a great opportunity for everyone to support the work they do.”
Alex will begin on Saturday, February 10 at 6am at Hunts Cross station. He should be done at Kirkdale by around six o’clock in the evening.
Along the way, friends, coworkers, and representatives from nearby businesses who are participating in the run as a relay will join him. Merseyrail’s Senior Train Driver, Mark Scott, will also be participating.
Centre 56 has also been selected by Merseyrail as one of its Charities of the Year. This implies that after the run, they will carry on collaborating and reaping the rewards of employee fundraising and volunteer activities.
Alex continued:
“We’re all really excited about the difference our new partnership with Merseyrail will make for the children and families who rely on Centre 56. They’re already helping us open doors that we just didn’t even have the capacity to knock on before.”
The public can support Alex by going to the Northern Line station that is closest to them, and you can also support him by donating and supporting Alex’s run here.
READ MORE: MERSEYRAIL CHARITY CHAMPION RECEIVES ROYAL HONOUR
