“To combine my passion with a job I love has made it rewarding to work on this community event.”

5 May 2023 

Team Leader, Sean Dyer, explains why it’s rewarding to play a part in Avanti West Coast’s support for Crewe’s annual road race.

As a keen competitive runner and Team Leader based at Crewe station, I wanted to make a connection between local running club, South Cheshire Harriers, and my employer, Avanti West Coast, to support what matters in the community.

The well-established Crewe 10k – an annual road race created by South Cheshire Harriers – that brings together runners from across the North West, while raising money for charity was a great opportunity to do this. I arranged for Avanti West Coast to support this key event in the race calendar for the first time with planning and refreshments for over 400 finishers and volunteers. 

Crewe is a key hub on the West Coast route and many of our staff live and work here. It’s also the home of our training academy, which is on the doorstep of the race route.

The partnership between the two organisations has been positive – helping strengthen connections with the railway and community, encouraging people to run, and supporting local causes.   

The support through the community funding has enabled more profits from the event to be donated to charities – including the charity Hopes and Beams that offers inclusive sports, arts, teaching and activities for children and young adults with disabilities or additional needs.

Being able to combine my passion for running with a job I love has made it really rewarding to work on this community-based event. The partnership between the two organisations has been positive – helping strengthen connections with the railway and community, encouraging people to run, and supporting local causes.    

Each year at Avanti West Coast we support hundreds of community initiatives and events – with employees often providing the initial spark and bringing ideas to the Community and Sustainability Teams that people are passionate about.

When I’m not on the platforms dispatching trains and assisting customers during their journey, I’m pounding the roads and pavements of towns and cities in my running shoes.

I treat running as my second full-time job. I’m currently travelling across the globe to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal. This is a good challenge and enables me to bring together running with my love of travelling. It’s an exciting thrill to compete with the world’s best and then enjoy a new city!

For me, running is a great way to destress – I enjoy being outside in the elements. I love running because it means something different to everyone. I started running as a kid at my local track and have increased distances over the years up to the marathon. It’s great to see people starting out or completing their own challenges.  

Avanti West Coast are supportive of my running. They provide me with flexible worktimes, so I can train and compete with an ease of mind. My colleagues give me encouragement and help me fundraise for local causes.

Supporting Crewe 10k has been so fulfilling – not only is it something that I’m passionate about but it’s brought together colleagues and the community, highlighted Crewe’s railway connections, and sparked an interest in running. Most importantly, it has helped make a difference to those in need locally.

Main image: Sean Dyer, Avanti West Coast Team Leader at Crewe  

Images (top to bottom): Sean Dyer; Sean assisting a customer at Crewe station; Sean with his medal from the Chicago Marathon - one of the six World Marathon Majors