Fundraiser Alex Rigby is on track for charity first by running to all 69 Merseyrail stations in one go

Charity fundraiser Alex Rigby is aiming to become the first person to run to all 69 Merseyrail stations in just over 24 hours.

It means almost doubling the feat the 33-year-old successfully completed last year when he ran to 37 stations and covered 56 miles, with this year’s challenge totalling around 107 miles – the equivalent of four marathons.

Alex hopes to raise at least £35,000 for the Kirkdale-based Centre 56 which offers free specialist nursery care and support for children and their families who’ve suffered domestic abuse, trauma or crisis.

And he says:

“It’s really exciting.

“There’s been a lot of planning involved and I’m hoping that as well as raising money for Centre 56, it will raise awareness of the charity and the work it does, and that it will highlight domestic abuse and start those necessary conversations about it.”

“If I can do it, it will be a hell of an achievement.

“Like last year’s run it’s a unique challenge that’s never been done before, but I have got a lot of support with people and organisations running with me every step of the way.

“I’m looking forward to it – and just hoping we get decent weather, not the snow and ice we had last week!”

Sefton Charity Champion of the Year at last year’s Pride of Sefton Awards, Alex finished the 2024 epic fundraiser in just 11 hours, running to every train station on the Merseyrail network’s northern line.

This year he has added the Wirral line to create an incredible journey which he’ll start at 3pm on Friday, February 28, and hope to finish between 5-7pm on Saturday, March 1.

Alex, fundraising officer for Centre 56, will start this year’s challenge from Chester, travelling to Capenhurst, Ellesmere Port and down past Bromborough to Birkenhead Central, then to West Kirby, Wallasey and New Brighton before heading back to Birkenhead and Hamilton Square.

Alex is keeping it secret how he’s going to get to this side of the water – ‘but it won’t be on public transport’ – which will then see him head through the city centre towards James Street, Moorfields, Walton, Fazakerley, Aintree, Kirkby, Maghull, Ormskirk, Southport, and then down the northern line to Hunts cross ‘which is where I started from last year’.

Like last year, Alex will be joined by supporters and representatives from local businesses who are organising their own fundraising efforts for his amazing rail run.

Other companies taking part include luxury holiday firm Azure in Chester, who are starting the race with Alex, and energy and construction firm Ecogee who will run to Capenhurst. Sara Lawton, director and founder of Rise Construction Framework who won the King’s Award for Enterprise, will run the final leg.

Laura Hughes from No Knife Crime will also be taking part and, with the help of hero soldier Craig Lundberg who was blinded while serving in Iraq in 2007, Jack Davies and Craig Brewer from Terra Preta Coffee House and Bar in Aintree will be running with Alex from Walton station and finishing, via Fazakerley, Aintree, Old Roan and Kirkby at Headbolt Lane.

Craig Lundberg says:

“It’s a great opportunity and a privilege to be running with Alex.

“I have done a lot of things for a number of different charities over the years and I think sometimes charity starts at home, and focusing on a local lad, doing a local challenge for a local charity, ticks a lot of boxes for me.

“Having the opportunity to run with Alex, and Jack and Craig, around the area I grew up in will be incredible.”

“That’s why this will be such a success,” explains Alex, “because so many other people are running with me and some amazing local businesses are sponsoring me and, like an Olympic torch relay, they’ll be passing the baton on to the next one.

“There are some really inspirational people doing this with me.

“We are Merseyrail’s chosen charity for two years, so I wanted to make the most of this opportunity. You have to go big or go home.

“I want to draw attention to this amazing charity I work for, to raise awareness of what we do, and to let people who might need to use our services know we are there, and we can help them.

“We are here to help people who have suffered domestic violence, crisis or trauma, or are experiencing poverty, and we do help. As well as nursery care we do other things like support the families with Christmas presents, food hampers, and uniforms for school. We have a donation room and we don’t just play with the kids, we support them emotionally because they are dealing with all sorts of complex issues and needs.

“It’s a special place and it’s in a place that needs it.”

Alex was inspired to take on both challenges by Kevin Sinfeld, the ex-rugby player and now England coach who’s raised awareness and more than £1 million for Motor Neurone Disease in memory of his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow.

“He is a big inspiration because he makes me believe something like this is possible, and he brings people together for a fantastic cause.

“So hopefully, like him, I can get this done.

“It won’t be a chore or a burden, it will be a day to remember, to embrace and enjoy – raising awareness, and money for all the children and families who rely on us.”