Rail Aid backed by Transport for Wales

TRANSPORT for Wales is proud to be supporting Rail Aid – a new fundraising mission to raise money and stop the impact of coronavirus on the lives of children.

Rail Aid takes place between Sunday 22 and Friday 27 November and brings together the railway family of train operators, Network Rail, British Transport Police, suppliers, businesses around the rail network and anyone with an interest in the railway.

It’s been set up to help the Railway Children charity to give life-changing support to street children in the UK, India and Africa.

As part of their support, TfW staff will be taking part in a 5-5-5 challenge, moving for 5km (run, walk, hop, swim, cycle, scoot or anything else you can think of!) donating £5 and nominating 5 people to continue the challenge. The aim is to cover the distance of the entire TfW network and contribute to Rail Aid’s wider aim of covering the whole of the UK network.

Colleagues will also be holding local raffles virtually, with Transport for Wales Rail Services committing to match fund the amount raised.

People and Engagement Director Marie Daly said: “While the last year has transformed all our lives, we know that as an organisation we have to rally round to support the hardest hit in the communities we serve.

“Rail Aid brings together so much passion and support from every corner of our network as well as fitting in with the values at the heart of Transport for Wales to be fair, positive and connected.

“We are delighted to be able to match fund the terrific efforts of our colleagues and would very much welcome our customers supporting us in reaching our distance goal.”

Every year thousands of children across the UK, India and East Africa run away or are forced to leave homes that have become unbearable through poverty, abuse, violence and neglect. 

Reaching a child as soon as possible is crucial to getting to children on the streets before an abuser can, and before they become entrenched in street life. Railway Children race to get to children before the streets get to them. 

TfW, whose network covers more than 1,700KM, runs services into more than 25 local authority areas in Wales and England. TfW made the Railway Children its charity of the year in 2019 and takes its social and commercial responsibility very seriously. A number of initiatives are currently ongoing, including bringing empty space at stations back to use for social enterprises.

To join the effort, download the “My Virtual Mission” in your app store, click “Join A Mission” and Sign up with your details. Then:

1. Click “Join A Mission” and Sign up with your details
2. Click “Menu” and “Discover/Search” then type in “Rail Aid Get On Track” – and select team “Transport for Wales”
3. You are ready to start the challenge!
To donate your £5, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/transport-for-walesrailaid