Hull Trains employees to walk 250-mile rail route in support of brain injury charity

Employees from rail operator Hull Trains are preparing to undertake a 250-mile walking challenge to raise vital funds for the company's charity partner, P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery.

The fundraising initiative will see staff collectively walk the full length of Hull Trains' route between Hull Paragon and London King's Cross stations. The challenge is due to begin on 13 June 2026, with different employees covering sections of the route over a number of weeks.

The route mirrors the operator's rail service, which calls at stations including Brough, Howden, Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham.

The beneficiary charity, P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery, is based in Hull and provides support to people across the Humber region affected by acquired brain injuries. Its services include guidance, education and practical support for survivors and their families.

The organisation was founded by Paul Spence following his own experience of recovering from a brain haemorrhage after an unprovoked attack in 2012. The challenges he and his family faced during rehabilitation led to the creation of the charity, which now supports others who are also navigating a similar journey and circumstances.

The walk is being coordinated by Hull Trains driver Kelly Todd. The fundraiser also carries personal significance for employees, with staff citing the support the charity provided to former colleague Garry Varney as one of the motivations behind the challenge.

Hull Trains selected P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery as its Charity of the Year in 2025. As part of the charity partnership, the charity's branding has been displayed on one of the operator's trains, while passengers have also been given the option of donating Delay Repay compensation payments to the charity.

Deborah Birch, Head of HR at Hull Trains, said the walk reflected the strong community spirit among staff, many of whom live and work within the region served by the charity.

Paul Spence, Chief Executive and founder of P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery, welcomed the fundraising effort, noting that support from local businesses helps the charity expand its reach and continue assisting people recovering from brain injury.

The challenge forms part of Hull Trains' wider community engagement programme. The train operator recently received industry recognition after its English Tourism Week content campaign, fronted by television presenter Jack Marriner Brown, was shortlisted in the Best One-Off Content Campaign category at the Corporate Content Awards.