Fundraising champion Alex Rigby has raised £30,000 for Liverpool charity Centre 56 after completing a gruelling 24-hour relay run between Freshfield and Hightown railway stations.
Alex, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in June for his fundraising efforts, was joined by a team of volunteers who helped complete different legs of the 120km challenge along the Merseyrail Northern Line.
The Running The Railways challenge began at 5pm on Friday, June 26, and finished exactly 24 hours later on Saturday, June 27.
Together, the runners covered the equivalent of almost three consecutive marathons.
The team was supported throughout the challenge by businesses along the route, including Crosby Coffee and the Hightown Hotel at the Hightown end, as well as Kiosk Coffee, The Good Catch and the Beer Station near Freshfield.
This year’s event was sponsored by Clan Contracting Ltd and organised in partnership with Merseyrail.
Alex, who lives in Bootle and plays cricket for Ainsdale Cricket Club in Southport, is Fundraising Officer at Centre 56.
The charity provides specialist family support and nursery care for children aged two to 12 who have experienced domestic abuse or crisis situations in Liverpool.
Alex raised £27,207 through the challenge, before Merseyrail donated a further £2,793 to take the final total to £30,000.
The achievement continues a remarkable series of fundraising challenges for Alex.
In 2024, he ran between all 37 stations on the Merseyrail Northern Line, raising £30,000 for Centre 56.
His efforts also saw him named Sefton Charity Champion of the Year at the Pride Of Sefton Awards at The Grand in Southport.
Alex went even further in 2025, running between all 69 stations across the entire Merseyrail network and covering 107 miles.
That challenge raised £56,300.
His three Running The Railways challenges have now generated a combined £116,300 for Centre 56.
Alex Rigby said:
“I am delighted to announce that the final total for this year’s Running The Railways challenge is an incredible £30,000 and we couldn’t have done it without you.
“Over the past three years, these challenges have brought together friends, families, community groups, businesses, charities and CIC’s for one great cause, to help support a special charity in Kirkdale, called Centre 56.
“When I first joined Centre 56 three years ago, I wanted to find a way to raise the profile and spread awareness around domestic abuse.
“I find that bringing people together to do something that we all enjoy is the best way of doing that, over the three events we have now raised a grand total of £114,507 with over 77 organisations taking part and thousands of miles being run, walked and cycled across the Liverpool city region.
“There are so many people who have helped make these events a huge success and without you these challenges are just a run.
“I can’t thank you all enough for the support, it means so much to me and everyone at Centre 56.
“Thanks to you, we are able to help support so many more families who need it most.”
The latest fundraiser comes as demand for domestic abuse support services across Merseyside continues to rise.
Research commissioned by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell and produced by Women’s Aid and Liverpool John Moores University found that demand for domestic abuse services has outstripped supply.
The research estimated that more than 117,000 people experience domestic abuse in Merseyside each year, with women and children making up the majority of those affected.
Centre 56 has supported families affected by domestic abuse and crisis situations for more than 50 years.
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