A local fundraiser has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours list. Alex Rigby received the royal honour following his incredible charity running events over the last two years. The ultra-marathon events raised more than £80,000 for Centre 56, a charity supporting families affected by domestic abuse.
Recognition for Outstanding Charity Work
Merseyrail and Centre 56 joined together to nominate him for his outstanding services to charity. Neil Grabham, from Merseyrail, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Alex recognised in this way. What he’s achieved through Running the Railways is nothing short of inspiring. He’s shown what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose, and the difference partnerships like this can make for our communities. The funds raised will have a lasting impact for families supported by Centre 56, and this recognition is richly deserved.”
Impact on Centre 56
Centre 56 provides specialist support for vulnerable families, offering safe nursery provision alongside support services for women and children. The funding raised by Alex has helped the charity continue and expand that vital work. Lesley Burrows, from Centre 56, said: “Alex has this amazing ability to unite and inspire people and we’re so grateful to have him in our team at Centre 56. Through Running the Railways, Alex introduced Centre 56 to communities across the city region who absolutely embraced us. The legacy of that event continues to have a positive impact for our families and will do so for many years to come. We couldn’t be prouder of what he’s achieved and to see him receive this recognition.”
The Running the Railways Events
The 2024 event saw Alex run to every station on the Merseyrail Northern Line. In 2025, he went one step further, running more than 100 miles in 27 hours to visit every station on the network. Alex Rigby said: “I was so shocked when I got the letter and it’s taken a while to sink in. Centre 56 means a lot to me, I’m proud of the incredible work that Centre 56 does to support families that rely on us and it’s great to see the amazing impact people’s donations make every day. Running the Railways was one of the hardest and best things I’ve ever done, but I never imagined it would be recognised like this! I’m grateful to everyone who supported us, ran with us and donated and I’d really like to share this honour with them.”
Upcoming Challenge: Running the Railways 2026
Building on that success, a new event, Running the Railways 2026: On the Hour, will take place at the end of June. Starting at 5pm on Friday, June 26, Alex will lead a team in completing almost three back-to-back marathons. The team aims to raise at least £1,000 per hour they run, finishing at 5pm on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The challenge will see participants complete a 5k run every hour, on the hour, for 24 hours. They will cover the route between Freshfield and Hightown stations in a 120km relay. All funds raised will support Centre 56 and its work with families across the Liverpool City Region. Merseyrail colleagues will also be supporting the challenge, giving up their own time to run alongside Alex. For more information or to support the cause, please visit the Centre 56 fundraising page.
