Train driver hits £100,000 charity target

The Dartmoor Challenge Group annually organise a 30-mile charity hike over the 368 sq mile Dartmoor area - the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England.

Stephen, 53, formed the group in 1991 to raise money to help children who suffer from cancer and has steadily built up to the £100,000 mark since then.

Princetown-based Stephen said: "It's fantastic that we've managed to reach the £100,000 landmark. So much work and commitment has come from so many people over the past 19 years and I'm proud to be part of it. The £100,000 has been split between various south west-based charities over the years and we've been lucky to see the benefits that money has brought cancer sufferers whilst also seeing investment into facilities."

The charities Stephen's Group have supported since 1991 are:

• Clic Sargent - a national cancer charity that cares for children and young people
• Derriford Children's Cancer Service (DCCS) - a Plymouth-based Children's cancer service
• St Luke's Hospice - an award-winning Plymouth-based Hospice providing care to hundreds of people each year in Devon and Cornwall
• MacMillan Cancer Support - a national charity providing support, advice and expert information to those affected by cancer

Please find notes to Editors, CrossCountry facts and figures below.
For more information feel free to contact us on 0121 2006115 or by email to [email protected]

Notes to editors

The Dartmoor Challenge Group annually organise a 30-mile charity hike over the 368 sq mile Dartmoor area - the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England.

Stephen, 53, formed the group in 1991 to raise money to help children who suffer from cancer and has steadily built up to the £100,000 mark since then.

Princetown-based Stephen said: "It's fantastic that we've managed to reach the £100,000 landmark. So much work and commitment has come from so many people over the past 19 years and I'm proud to be part of it. The £100,000 has been split between various south west-based charities over the years and we've been lucky to see the benefits that money has brought cancer sufferers whilst also seeing investment into facilities."

The charities Stephen's Group have supported since 1991 are:

• Clic Sargent - a national cancer charity that cares for children and young people
• Derriford Children's Cancer Service (DCCS) - a Plymouth-based Children's cancer service
• St Luke's Hospice - an award-winning Plymouth-based Hospice providing care to hundreds of people each year in Devon and Cornwall
• MacMillan Cancer Support - a national charity providing support, advice and expert information to those affected by cancer

Please find notes to Editors, CrossCountry facts and figures below.
For more information feel free to contact us on 0121 2006115 or by email to [email protected]

Notes to editors

CrossCountry started operating on 11 November 2007. The franchise, which is the most extensive in the UK, will run until 31 March 2016. For further information on CrossCountry services and future franchise plans log on to www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Arriva is one of the largest private sector providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing more than 43,500 people (including share of associate companies) and providing more than one billion passenger journeys every year.

Arriva provides transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and water buses, and operates in 12 European countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

CrossCountry facts and figures:

STATIONS SERVED: 118
ROUTE MILES: 1,654
WEEKDAY SERVICES: 293
PASSENGERS CARRIED: Over 30 million passenger journeys a year anticipated
ANNUAL TRAIN MILEAGE: Approximately 16 million
EMPLOYEES: Approximately 1,700
LONGEST TRAIN SERVICE: 08.20 Aberdeen to Penzance (774 miles)

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Contact Information

CrossCountry Press Office: [email protected]

About CrossCountry

CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year.

For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk or visit one of our social media platforms via X @crosscountryuk or Facebook at facebook.com/crosscountrytrains