Don Coffey, a train driver from TransPennine Express (TPE) based at Manchester Piccadilly and owner of ‘The Best Cab Ride Channel’ on YouTube, unveiled a plaque at Chapel-le-Frith Station on Friday 26 April to commemorate his charity work with Samaritans.
Don has been filming the view from driving cabs and posting the journeys on YouTube for rail enthusiasts to watch. As his channel has gone viral, with over 47,000 subscribers watching his videos, Don chose to donate the proceeds to Samaritans.
Don has donated over £20,000 to the charity, and he is expecting to donate over £10,000 to the Samaritans next month.
Don said: “My colleagues and friends in the railway profession have to deal with some difficult situations and Samaritans do amazing work to support those who are affected. I’m delighted that the YouTube channel has developed to a point where we can support them in various ways.
“I couldn’t do it without the help of TPE and numerous other rail companies and people that work for them. It’s also a product of the people that watch the videos and my gratitude goes to them too.”
The plaque is a topography of the local area around Chapel-le-Frith, Derbyshire, providing a scenic seating view out over the surrounding hills. It was created in partnership with the Friends of Chapel-le-Frith Station.
John Brook, chairman of the Friends of Chapel-le-Frith Station Group; said “The Friends group was formed in 2008 and has transformed the station, with its great views over the western edge of The Peak District, over succeeding years. Don has been an active member from the start, and it’s great that we, through Don, have been able to combine the completion of this project with publicity for Samaritans, whose special connections with the Railway Industry are of so much help.”
Dave Brown from Samaritans commented: “Don’s fundraising for Samaritans has made an incredible difference to people in need. His donations alone have allowed us to answer over 6,500 potentially lifesaving calls. Don and his viewers are helping us to be there for thousands of people when they have nowhere else to turn, and we can’t thank him enough.”
Image credit: Samaritans
