This June, OG James "Westy" Westwood (Patchells 1997-2002) and his friend Caspar will take on an extraordinary feat: running 250km across the Gobi Desert—the equivalent of six marathons in six days. They’re not professional athletes. In their own words: “We are not Ultra Athletes!” But their motivation runs deep, personal, and powerful.

The ultramarathon is part of their mission to raise vital funds for CURE Epilepsy, an organisation dedicated to finding a cure for one of the most common and life-altering neurological conditions.

For Westy, the cause is close to home. His eldest daughter, Arta, was diagnosed with epilepsy just before her 3rd birthday.

“Some days, she experienced up to 20 complex partial seizures. It was a deeply traumatic experience,” James shares.
“We felt helpless. This challenge is our way of fighting back—for her, and for others.”

Epilepsy affects 1 in 26 people during their lifetime and often begins in childhood. James and Caspar are determined to raise awareness and support breakthrough research by undertaking this brutal race, made even tougher by the self-assisted format: they must carry everything they need on their backs, through temperatures ranging from -40°C to +40°C.

Despite the conditions—and a training schedule that recently included camping through sweltering heat and stumbling upon a six-foot Chinese cobra—the pair remain focused, driven by purpose and a growing wave of support.

They’ve already raised over $122,000 USD, with every donation being matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000—doubling the impact for CURE Epilepsy.

Support their journey and help fund research for a future free of epilepsy by donating here.

Let’s show Westy and Caspar the full support of the Glenalmond community as they prepare to tackle this extraordinary challenge. We’re cheering you on all the way across the Gobi!