Forty years after completing a 17,000-mile journey across the Americas, three lifelong friends are reuniting for a new challenge in aid of vital epilepsy research. This month, Sophie, Rona and Craig will return to South America to take on the Patagonia Cycle Challenge, a 1,200-kilometre ride through one of the world’s most remote regions – Chile’s Carretera Austral.
Camping each night and facing unpredictable weather, the trio will spend six weeks completing a route they were unable to ride in their original 1985 expedition. The challenge will raise funds for the Epilepsy Research Institute and Maggie’s Forth Valley, a cancer support centre.
For Sophie, this journey is especially personal. Her son, Hector, had epilepsy and tragically died at the age of 13 due to SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). Another of her children also lives with the condition. Sophie’s motivation to ride again is to honour Hector’s memory and raise awareness of the urgent need for epilepsy research.
“It’s quite a daunting prospect, we’ve been training but cycling long distances daily and camping each night for weeks on end is a very different prospect at 62 rather than 22 years of age. Hector was in another room just a few feet from me when he died. SUDEP is the main cause of death in otherwise healthy people with epilepsy, and they still don’t know what happens. More research is needed to identify the causes and ways to prevent SUDEP deaths. Donations will be split evenly between both charities. Any donation will make a difference and will be hugely appreciated.”
— Sophie Trafford
In 1985, Sophie, Rona and Craig – then students at Aberdeen University – set out on an unsupported expedition from Punta Arenas in Chile to Anchorage, Alaska. Over 12 months, they cycled through deserts, mountains and rainforests, covering 17,000 miles and raising £70,000 for breast cancer research. Their efforts earned them the title of BBC Scotland Scots of the Year in 1985/86.
At the time, the southern section of Chile’s Carretera Austral was incomplete, forcing them to bypass it. Four decades later, the friends are returning to finish what they started – now driven by new purpose and experience.
“On behalf of the Epilepsy Research Institute, I want to sincerely thank Sophie, Rona and Craig for dedicating this extraordinary challenge to raising vital funds and awareness for epilepsy. Sophie and her son Hector’s story is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for research into epilepsy and SUDEP, which we know is the top priority of the epilepsy community. Sophie, Rona and Craig’s courage in taking on such a demanding journey across the Americas, after so many years off their bikes, is truly incredible. Their commitment will help drive forward the science that can change futures for people affected by epilepsy and their families. This amazing group of friends are a true inspiration to us all.”
— Rosemarie Pardington, Chief Executive, Epilepsy Research Institute
The Patagonia Cycle Challenge will begin on 11 October 2025 in Puerto Montt, Chile, and finish in Villa O’Higgins in late November. Supported by family, the group hopes their adventure will raise awareness of epilepsy, SUDEP and the importance of scientific research.
You can read more and support the team’s remarkable efforts here.