A Merseyrail ultra-marathon runner and Fundraising Officer has raised over £40,000 for Centre 56, a Liverpool-based domestic abuse charity, after completing a monumental 107-mile run across the entire Merseyrail network.

Alex Rigby started his marathon run from Chester at 3 pm on Friday, 28th February. His run took him to all 69 stations on Merseyrail’s Wirral and Northern lines, including Ellesmere Port, West Kirby, New Brighton, Headbolt Lane, Ormskirk, and Southport.

Just over 27 hours later, Alex reached the finish line at Hunts Cross station, where he was greeted by a large number of supporters who had gathered at the station to cheer him home.

Throughout his run, Alex was joined by hundreds of local runners, friends, and family. Over 40 Merseyrail staff, including Managing Director Neil Grabham and Deputy Managing Director Suzanne Grant, also took part, taking turns relay-style to support him and running alongside Alex in branded yellow t-shirts.

Network Rail supported Alex in his challenge with a rare opportunity by giving him permission to walk through the single-bore tunnel between Hamilton Square and James Street at 1 am.

This was essential for Alex to complete his full route, which is usually inaccessible and requires careful coordination with Network Rail to ensure it can be undertaken safely.

Centre 56, the beneficiary of Alex’s run, was established over 50 years ago, and is a place of safety and hope for families in Kirkdale, and provides specialist nursery care for children aged 2-12 who have experienced domestic abuse or crisis situations.

Last year, Alex completed another marathon challenge by running the entire 56 miles length of the Merseyrail Northern Line and stopping at all 37 stations along the way.

“This was by far the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced, but knowing the difference it will make for families supported by Centre 56 kept me going. The generosity and support from everyone—runners, Merseyrail staff, and the wider community—have been incredible. My legs may be sore, but seeing the total raised go beyond £40,000 makes it all worthwhile. These funds will help ensure families in crisis have food in their cupboards, money on the meter, and a safe place to turn to when they need it most.”

Alex Rigby