Retired Scots Reunite for Charity Cycling Challenge Across South America

In September 2025, three friends from Scotland are reuniting to complete a cycling challenge they first undertook 40 years ago. Back in 1985, Craig Swan, Sophie Trafford, and Rona Hulbert were just out of university when they embarked on a grueling 17,000-mile charity cycling expedition from Chile to Alaska. Now, at the age of 62, the trio is returning to South America to finish the one stretch of the route they couldn't complete in their youth.

This time, the friends will be cycling from north to south, having learned the hard way about the difficulties caused by prevailing winds during their original journey. Over the course of five weeks, they plan to cover an 800-mile stretch in southern Chile, raising funds for Maggie's and Epilepsy Research charities. The three have not been on two wheels since their epic 1985 adventure, but they are determined to finish what they started, despite the challenges of cycling long distances and camping at their age.

The original expedition was an incredible feat, with the friends dealing with illness, wild dogs, robbers, and even witnessing war in Nicaragua and El Salvador. When they returned home, they were voted "Scots of the year" by BBC Scotland for their remarkable fundraising efforts, which totaled £70,000 for Breast Cancer Research. Now, four decades later, the friends are ready to embark on a new journey, driven by a desire to honor loved ones lost and make a difference through their charitable endeavors.