Railway chaplain Mike Roberts is drawing together friends and colleagues to walk from Liverpool to Manchester, the areas he covers as chaplain for Railway Mission, a charity providing support and care for rail workers.
Both areas have histories embedded in the birth of the railway almost two centuries ago, with the route Mike will walk covering more than 50km and taking in the Chat Moss route via Newton-Le-Willows, walking along footpaths and roads that stay close to the line used today by Northern and TransPennine Express.
He said: “My plan is to stop in at all the stations that still exist along the old Liverpool to Manchester line, including places like Edge Hill and Rainhill that are synonymous with our railway heritage, and take in some of the places that have disappeared off our railway maps since 1830.
“Railway Mission has been around since 1881, and by then the Liverpool and Manchester railway was firmly established, and it’s been part of the North West’s story every since.”
Railway Mission supports a team of eighteen chaplains across the UK, who are constantly called on to support staff following traumatic incidents, in personal and professional situations and more, including the incidents where people choose to use the railway as a means to end their life.
Mike added: “In four years I’ve been involved in following up almost two hundred incidents of people who have come to attempt to end their life on the railway.
“Each incident, as well as affecting the families and friends of those involved has a huge impact on the rail staff involved, and we’re there for those staff when they need us.
“The next season of life is going to hard for so many, but the chaplains will be there for everyone, like they have been for almost a century and a half.”
Mike is hoping to walk the Liverpool to Manchester route in two days, and asking colleagues and wider railway to join him, as well as inviting people who can shed some interesting facts on the route he is taking.
He is aiming to raise £1,000 on his trip, and donations can be given via https://gofund.me/95503cf6, or you can find out more by email at mike.roberts@railwaymission.org or by phone/text on 07557 430 364.
More information about Railway Mission is online at www.railwaymission.org
