Accomplished ultramarathon runner Alex Rigby is set to undertake a remarkable fundraising challenge this Saturday, February 10, 2024. His mission: to run the entire length of the Merseyrail Northern Line, covering an impressive 56 miles and stopping at all 37 stations along the way.

To complete the challenging route in under 11 hours, Alex, who boasts a stellar running record with a 5-kilometre personal best time of 17 minutes and 12 seconds, as well as a marathon time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 15 seconds, is no stranger to pushing his limits.

The dedicated runner, affiliated with Liverpool Running Club, is fundraising for Centre 56, a charity where he serves as a Fundraising Officer. Centre 56 specialises in providing support to children and families who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse.

The charity offers expert childcare services for children from birth to 12 years, with a staff trained to address the unique needs of those who have faced domestic abuse.

Alex aims to raise an impressive £20,000 for Centre 56; at the of the time of writing, his total stands at £11,200. The run commences at 6 am from Hunts Cross station. Alex will be accompanied by friends and supporters, including Merseyrail driver Mark Scott, who will join in a relay along the route.

Merseyrail has chosen Centre 56 as one of its supported charities for the year, promising continued assistance beyond the run throughout 2024. The company is encouraging the community to support Alex by gathering at various stations along the route to cheer him on and make donations.

Having diligently trained for the past five months, Alex plans to conclude his run at Kirkdale station between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. A warm reception is anticipated, with supporters eager to celebrate his triumphant finish and contribute to the charitable cause.

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.”

“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.”

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.”

To donate and support Alex’s run, please visit https://bit.ly/Centre-56-ultra-marathon