A bus driver is trying to ease the “cost of survival” crisis as he sets out on a daunting 105-mile challenge across the region to help others wracked by hardship.
Neil Atherton, 43, from Widnes, previously trekked 150 miles of bus route tarmac on foot in 2020 to raise cash for food banks amid the turmoil of the pandemic but the price of basics and fuel surging, he will be hitting the road once again to bolster support for those struggling. The former winner of Arriva’s Made a Difference and Ultimate Champion awards will be lacing up to walk seven Liverpool City Region bus routes in seven days in late October and said he hopes that by expanding the initiative across a wider area will give more friends and colleagues the chance to take part.
Funds raised are to be divided between the Trussell Trust food bank charity and Whitechapel homeless centre. Starting with the Bootle 11 circular on Sunday, October 23, Neil will be following up with the Speke 86A the day after, then the Southport 46 circular on October 25, before marking the mid-point of the challenge with a 24-miler along the 79C route from Runcorn through Widnes on Wednesday, October 26.
