Arriva North West driver trainer and ‘Buswalker’ Neil Atherton will conduct his next charity bus route walk on 26 July when he takes on eight miles of the Arriva Merseyside 79C service between Murdishaw and Hough Green.
Mr Atherton has already raised a significant amount of money for foodbanks on the operator’s patch and a summer series of five walks will continue those efforts.
The 79C jaunt will be followed on 9 August with a 12-mile journey on the 86A route between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the city centre, and then on 16 August by covering the circular 27 service on Merseyside.
On 23 August he will move further afield to walk the Arriva Cymru route 12 between Rhyl and Llandudno, and the programme will conclude on 30 August with a 15-mile tour of the 10A service from St Helens to Liverpool city centre.
The five walks over the summer form the second of a trio of challenges to be undertaken by Mr Atherton in 2025. The first, in April, saw him complete 50 miles in one day on a route between depots in Southport and Runcorn, while in December he will conclude this year’s programme.
Once that happens, any foodbank that was passed during the walks will receive a share of the money raised. The 2025 target is £7,500, with 72% of that reached as of 17 June. Further donations can be made via a GoFundMe page.
Mr Atherton has previously generated over £25,000 for foodbanks, with those efforts having gained him recognition via the award of a British Empire Medal.
For the upcoming walks, he will be accompanied by his trusty Buswalker shopping trolley made up to look like an Arriva bus, with a mission of highlighting food poverty among children when schools are closed and how foodbanks are even more vital during those periods.
Various foodbank representatives will join Mr Atherton on his summer jaunts.
