Fife Friends Take on 1,700-mile ‘Rat Run’ Challenge in support of MND Scotland

Four friends from Cupar, Fife, are preparing to take on an incredible motoring challenge to raise vital funds and awareness for leading Scottish motor neuron disease charity, MND Scotland.

Garry Hegg (53), along with friends Bryan, Ewan, and eighteen-year-old Alfie, will take part in The Rat Run challenge this September. The team will travel over 1,700 miles by car from Cupar to Spain, using a vehicle they purchased for just £225.

The Rat Run is one of the biggest charity drives from the UK to Spain, taking place over five days in the ultimate driving experience. All participants have a maximum limit of £600 to purchase a car. Teams can make fit-for-purpose alterations, ensuring they do not exceed the set limit when purchasing a car. The route spans from Dover to Rouen, Bordeaux to Zaragoza, and concludes in Benidorm.

Garry and the team will set off on 5th September 2026, joining around 250 other vehicles in Dover on a five-day journey through France and Spain. They will arrive in Benidorm on 11 September.

Along the way, teams will complete daily challenges and take part in best dressed car, best fancy-dress costume, and best team player.

The group’s chosen vehicle is a red Audi A4 Avant, which has since been carefully re-paired and transformed into a tartan-themed car to reflect the teams’ Scottish roots.

All of the work has been carried out by the team themselves, with significant support from local businesses.

Garry said, “It only cost us £225, which was scrap value. I was gob smacked when I saw it. It was almost immaculate for its age, as it only had one family owner from new and full-service history. We really found a gem!”

The tartan design and branding have already drawn significant attention at local events and on social media, helping to raise awareness of both the upcoming challenge and MND Scotland.

The team chose to support MND Scotland due to personal connections to the cause, including family member and former MND Scotland Chief Executive, Craig Stockton, and Garry’s colleague’s stepson, who was recently diagnosed with motor neuron disease.

Garry said, “It is an awful disease, and I do not think it is supported enough. Through knowing Craig, hearing about the work that MND Scotland does, and then seeing MND hit close to home again recently, it really made the decision clear for us.”

Rugby has also played a part in their motivation, with three of the team having played together for many years, and Alfie currently playing for Howe of Fife Rugby Club. Gary said, “MND is quite prevalent in rugby, so that really struck a chord with us.”

The group has received support from local businesses and individuals, with donations including tires, servicing, vinyl work, fuel sponsorship, and fundraising contributions from The Cool Box Benidorm that have helped them exceed their initial target.

Gary added, “We honestly thought it would just be the four of us doing this, but as soon as people hear what we are doing, everybody wants to help in some way. The idea is that as much money as possible goes straight to MND Scotland.”

Leading up to the challenge, the team will attend local car shows across Fife and the surrounding areas to continue fundraising and raising awareness, while sharing regular updates on their TikTok Yeti Racing channel. Garry hopes the Rat Run challenge will become a recurring fundraising effort for MND Scotland. He said, “This is not just a one-off. If we can keep doing this year after year, keep raising funds, and keep people talking about MND Scotland, then it is absolutely worth it.”

MND Scotland would like to thank Garry, Bryan, Ewan, and Alfie for their support and wishes them the very best of luck in their upcoming challenge. If you would like to donate and support the team by donating, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/yetiracing

For more information about The Rat Race, please visit: https://www.theratrun.com/

If you would like to make time count for families affected by MND and take on a challenge to help raise funds, please visit www.mndscotland.org.uk or email: fundraising@mndscotland.org.uk for more information.