The Poppy Express has now grown into an institution with a number of volunteers travelling along the East Coast Main Line to raise money every year.
The fundraising pair were recently recognised at the Building Heroes Awards for their work, and a brass band played the couple out of Hull Train Station as they embarked on the first leg of their 1,000-mile journey.
Mrs Scaife: “The serving personnel, the veterans and their families are very important and they need as much help as they can these days. We wouldn’t be the country we are now without the veterans.
“My family fought in the First World War and the Second World War, and Denis, my husband, was in Northern Ireland, and year after year, there are different things to remember people by. We help where we can and it can be a bit tiring, but it’s an experience.”
Richard Salkeld, Head of Communications and Partnerships for Lumo and Hull Trains, is keeping Mr and Mrs Scaife company aboard the Poppy Express.
He told GB News: “We support Denis and Barbara in this poppy selling marathon and it’s something in our calendar every year. There are lots of charities that we support across the year, but this is the time of year when everybody’s particularly inspired to get behind Denis and Barbara as they do something so inspirational.
“Their dedication, their tenacity and their energy are just remarkable. They’re travelling hundreds of miles over the next two days, across the length and breadth of the country. It clearly makes an impact it in terms of people’s lives, and we see a great response from our customers on board.
“People are incredibly supportive and it isn’t just a transaction between Denis, Barbara and our customers – there’s genuine affection, there’s warmth, and there’s admiration for what they’re doing. That’s the same from the colleagues on board as well, which is why we’re so proud to see them off today with a bit of a special fanfare this year.”