Sixteen teams have walked an incredible 11,920 miles, 26,938,077 steps, raising £5,140 for the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) as part of its Station to Station challenge.
From 22nd April until 13th May, 16 teams of six across the rail industry participated in the challenge, an initiative which not only raised money for a great cause but also brought teams together through exercise.
As a collective, the challenge was to walk between Inverness and Glasgow, taking in 23 stations across Scotland, Wales and England over a three-week period. Team members tracked their real-world activity along a virtual route in a step challenge app, moving along the map of the UK and calling at key station milestones along the way.
Among those taking part were Railway Industry Association (RIA), enGauged, Amaro, Clemtech, CrossCountry, Freightliner, Furrer + Frey, Porterbrook, RSSB, Railpen, and VTG Rail.
Milda Manomaityte, Innovation Director at RIA, said: “It was fantastic to be involved with the Station to Station fundraiser raising vital funds for such an important cause. Well done to everyone involved covering such a huge amount of miles and raising so much money at the same time.”
RIA team that took part in the Station to Station challenge. Photo credit: RIA
enGauged, a rail infrastructure design practice based in Crewe, raised £435 as part of the challenge for the charity dedicated to assisting current, former and retired railway workers and their families across the UK.
The enGauged team started off with daily lunchtime walks, helped by the long-awaited sunny weather. To boost their step count even further, enGauged organised a charity walk on 7th May along part of the Conwy Valley Way.
Founder Steve Whitmore, a chartered engineer with almost 41 years of rail industry experience and a former president of the Permanent Way Institution, said: “Taking part in the Station to Station Challenge was a fantastic experience for our team. Not only did we get to stretch our legs and enjoy some beautiful scenery, but we also supported a cause that truly makes a difference in the lives of railway workers and their families.”
“The camaraderie and commitment from everyone at enGauged was amazing, and we’re proud to have contributed to the Railway Benefit Fund. I truly believe this has had a great effect on the team’s mental health. We’re already looking forward to the next one!”
