13 August 2025 •
There’s still time to sign up for c2c Railway’s 2025 Ultra Marathon next month, which is this year raising vital funds for Southend-based children’s cancer charity, Gold Geese.
On 13 September, the local rail firm will welcome runners to the starting lines of both 30 mile and 50 mile courses along the network – and there is still time to sign up and join them.
Gold Geese is one of c2c’s closest charity and community partners which supports children with cancer and their families through the most challenging of times.
In its second year, the event is helping to raise money for this important local charity as it seeks to expand the local areas it works in.
Katie Southgate, Gold Geese Founder and CEO, said:
“The 2025 Ultra Marathon is going to be incredible and our most challenging, awe-inspiring fundraising event to date – and we’d love as many people as possible to join us on the day.
“Whether you’re participating by running or walking, or simply helping cheer people on, it’s going to be a brilliant atmosphere and a huge show of support for all the families we help.”
With a month to the day left until the event, there’s still time to sign up for the challenge; find out more and sign up here.
All participants, whether running or walking the route, will also receive free travel on the c2c services to and from the race.
To show how much of an impact this charity makes to local families, c2c has created a film with Gold Geese and some of the people that have benefitted from their support, including Skye, who was diagnosed with Leukaemia when she was 10, which you can watch below.
c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen, said:
“Our partnership with Gold Geese is something we are incredibly proud of; what they do for young people and families in our local communities in supporting those afflicted by such a terrible illness is nothing short of inspirational.
“As some people may know, I’m a keen runner myself and am looking forward to taking on the marathon again this year; I’m looking forward to coming together with the people of our local communities and demonstrate our continued commitment to Gold Geese.”
At c2c, we are proud to have supported Gold Geese in many of its events and to provide travel for numerous ‘Gold’ families with affected children for hospital appointments and visits.
In September 2022, c2c launched its ‘Gold Train’ – which has been wrapped in Gold Geese’s colours to celebrate the partnership. Since its launch, the train has now travelled an incredible 140,000 miles, carrying 46 million passengers.
Additionally, we recently supported Gold Geese’s first ‘Goslings’ seafront event, to raise vital funds for local families facing childhood cancer.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About c2c
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
Images
- Featured Image ‘c2c Ultra Marathon 2024’
- Second Image ‘c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen and Gold Geese Founder and CEO, Katie Southgate’
- Third Image ‘c2c’s Gold Train with Gold Geese Founder and CEO, Katie Southgate’
About Gold Geese
- Founded by Katie Southgate in 2018 following her own daughter’s battle with cancer, Gold Geese is a children’s cancer charity providing incredible support to families in Essex. The event is taking place in the middle of September to support Gold Geese’s annual Go Gold campaign, which takes places during fundraising activities as part of the annual Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Ultra Marathon Details
Pricing details for race entry can be found below.
50-Mile Route:
- £105
30-Mile Route:
- £85
Sign up by clicking here: The c2c Essex Ultra 2025 | Charity Ultra Running
Route
- In an update for the 2025 race, the 50-mile route will start at c2c’s Upminster station, and the 30-mile route will begin at Lansdowne Primary School near Tilbury Town station.
- Both routes will follow along the Thames going east, then the London Loop and England Coast National Trails – affectionately termed the ‘Essex Riviera’ – before finishing at Thorpe Bay station, providing an opportunity to bring the local community into celebrations at the finish line.