GOBI MARCH (MONGOLIA)
250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON

22-28 June 2025

DAYS TO GO

Race Coverage

RACE Coverage

Gobi March Home

Andrea MORGAN

Almost Retired....

United Kingdom

Jeongin RYU

Korea (South)

Joanna STOREY

Netball Coach

United Kingdom

Gvido DOLGAIS

Latvia

Kosima BüSING

Purchasing Manager

Namibia

Benita DAUGERTE

Latvia

Sangmin LEE

Korea (South)

Nerissa PERUMAL

Doctorate Student

South Africa

Doug BRAATEN

Retired

Canada

Emujin BATJARGAL

Tour Guide

Mongolia

Amelia FONG

Chief of Staff

Singapore

Jacqueline EASTRIDGE

Teacher

United States

Manish NAIR

Civil servant

Singapore

Annika VAN WELL

Company director / owner

Germany

Ricardo VAZQUEZ

Owner

Spain

Chiara GARCIA

Student

United States

Leonie DIEMONT

Student

South Africa, Resident in Germany

Linda CLARK

Risk Manager

United States

Sanae KONDO

Retired

Japan

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Australia

Michelle SUNKEL

Social Worker / Faculty

United States

Douglas FERGUSSON

Consultant

United Kingdom, Resident in Hong Kong

Madeline BROWN

Student

United States

Ning YANG

Manager

China

Janka DOLEZAL

Life Coach

Germany

Georgia BAMBER

Life Coach

Australia

Andrea MORGAN

Almost Retired....

United Kingdom

Andrea Morgan is the long suffering sister of Anthony Brammer. She is a retired 50 something mother of two grown up children with the eldest still clinging on to the nest. She tries to use as much of her personal time as possible outside running, hiking, walking, cycling, skiing and surfing ("ok I lied about the last one"). She is a keen traveller, and now that she has reached the end of her career, she is looking forward to expanding her horizons. Andrea's sporting glory days are now just cherished memories but her enthusiasm remains undimmed, although distance and times continue to head in opposite directions. She Has taken part in many races over the past two decades and it's time to pay it forward. She has marshalled the start line of a number of marathons and half marathons and is keen to continue to support others in their goals, just as she was supported. She volunteered at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2022 and the Namib Race (Namibia) in 2024. When she is not attempting to recapture past successes, or rediscover her abs, she volunteers for the Scout Association, which she has done for the past 20 years in numerous roles including Chairman and Treasurer.

Jeongin RYU

Korea (South)

Jeongin Ryu is a civil engineer from Korea. She has completed many marathons and ultramarathons and has hiked to Everest Base Camp and crossed the Cho La Pass in Nepal. She has a positive attitude and a lot of energy. She hopes to participate as a competitor at the Gobi March in the future, but in the meantime she can't wait to support the exhausted competitors.

Joanna STOREY

Netball Coach

United Kingdom

Joanna (Jo) Storey is a dedicated netball coach specialising in performance and development for junior athletes and supporting adults looking to return to sport. Her passion extends to volunteering with Paranetball, which enables young people with disabilities to participate and enjoy the game. In addition to her coaching role, she serves as a committee member at her netball club, furthering her commitment to creating a supportive sporting environment. She is the proud mother of three teenage daughters who push her to seek new things and partake in new experiences. Prior to having children, she worked as a digital mapping specialist, honing her skills in maps and data. At her core, she is a geographer with an appreciation for the world and its diverse landscapes and yearn to experience unique places. Her love for the outdoors is reflected in her active lifestyle, averaging 20,000 steps per week, and regularly training at the gym and home. She has never said no to trying new sports and activities; from rugby and setting up the women’s cricket team at her college at university, volleyball and 5 aside through work and karate and netball whilst looking to make new friends in a new area. She has run several half marathons, muddy runs, a charity cycle and completed the coast to coast as a youngster. She is always the first to volunteer and help organise events and activities, especially for young people and those in need. Her goal is to empower individuals through sport, creating opportunities for all to thrive and succeed.

Gvido DOLGAIS

Latvia

In 2023, Gvido Dolgais, from Riga in Latvia, joined his first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon at the Atacama Crossing 2023 as part of Team Latvija successfully competing the race. He says "It was a wonderful experience and I would love to see how things are happening on the organisation side." He says that "helping others is always nice."

Kosima BüSING

Purchasing Manager

Namibia

Kosima Büsing is an outdoor enthusiast from Windhoek, Namibia. Kosima joins us for her second RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon as a volunteer at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025. She says that out in the middle of nowhere is where she finds her peace and recharges her batteries to face the daily grind back in the city. Nature is her favorite place in the world and she enjoys volunteering tremendously. When not in the office, she is in the bush either hiking or trail running. She is also a keen bird watcher and will always have a pair of binoculars close at hand. When exploring a new area, she also researches the endemic birds she is likely to find. Kosima is a Purchasing Manager at OBECO in Windhoek.

Benita DAUGERTE

Latvia

Benita Daugerte of Latvia studied art and music. She enjoys hiking, including at a long distance. Four times a week she wakes up early and go to the gym because she believes discipline is the key of success. From time to time she loves to challenge herself and she feels the Gobi March will be a great challenge.

Sangmin LEE

Korea (South)

Sangmin Lee trained as a soldier in South Korea. He originally found out about the Gobi March after seeing a video on YouTube. He feels that he will get a lot of inspiration, enthusiasm, humanity and other things from competitors and volunteers. He is excited to volunteer for the first time at a RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon.

Nerissa PERUMAL

Doctorate Student

South Africa

Nerissa (Kimmiscka) Perumal is a doctorate student, traveler, activist, and yogi. Her love for travel and adventure has led her to 55 countries and a wealth of adventures and learning. With a business background and over 10 years of being in the social development space, she is currently in her final year of completing a Doctorate in Business Administration in AI in developing countries. She aims to bridge the gap between small businesses in developing countries and technology. She is a qualified First Aider, Advanced Level 3, and she holds a skipper boat license. She has volunteer experience in multiple countries and is a part of many NPOs in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a dedicated yogi, hoping to complete Yoga Teacher Training in due time. She is an avid fitness enthusiast, and her daily activities include weight training and aerial yoga. Recreationally she enjoy golfs, padel, and hiking. When she is travelling, she likes adventure activities and adrenaline activities. Her aim in life is to experience life to the fullest and create a positive impact.

Doug BRAATEN

Retired

Canada

Canadian Doug Braaten grew up in the southern Black Forest of Germany close to the Alps where he developed his love for the outdoors and mountains. Fluent in German and English, he still enjoys trekking, trail running, cycling, skiing, photography and just about anything that will get him outdoors. He also loves to travel around the world, spending a year travelling with my wife where they trekked on every continent except for the Antarctic. He was able to combine his love for travel and the outdoors, working in the charitable sector for 28 years as the COO where he planned cycling and trekking events to raise finances and awareness for charity. The last few trips were in the Himalayas of Nepal. Now living in Calgary, Alberta in Canada, close to the Rockies, he continues to enjoy many outdoor pursuits. The Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025 is Doug's second time at a RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon having already volunteered at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2023. He is a detail oriented person, and enjoys interacting with people from all over the world.

Emujin BATJARGAL

Tour Guide

Mongolia

Emu Batjargal currently works as a tour guide in Mongolia. Emu speaks English and Chinese fluently, in addition to her native Mongolian. Traveling and trying adventures were always her kind of thing. Emu watched the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2024 on vlogs and it inspired her so much as a sport enthusiast and Mongolian. She was born and grew up in the northernmost part of Mongolia but now she works in the southern Gobi desert with international visitors. She is planning to participate in the ultramarathon one day (probably after saving enough money)!

Amelia FONG

Chief of Staff

Singapore

Amelia Fong is currently the Chief of Staff at an experimental tech unit in the Singapore government. She has helped the founder turn his vision for Singapore into a model for a tech-enabled government into reality by building organisational structures needed for the team to succeed. Outside of work, she is all about the outdoors. After work and on the weekends you can find her trail running at the park near her house or exploring Southeast Asia for the best trails (her current favorite is the Lava Fields of Mount Batur in Bali). She is looking to volunteer because she wants to see the action up close - to see what it's like to participate in RacingThePlanet at some point in the future. Amelia will be volunteering along with her husband, Manish Nair.

Jacqueline EASTRIDGE

Teacher

United States

4 Deserts Club member Jacqueline Eastridge returns to the volunteer team for Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025. Jacqueline is not only an impressive careerwoman and a successful endurance athlete but she most recently was Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia followed by a teaching stint at an international school also in Mongolia. In addition to completing the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, Jacqueline has finished RacingThePlanet: Iceland 2013, Primal Quest Race and the Trans Alpine Run as well as high altitude climbs in Switzerland, France and Germany and a 16-mile swim in Tampa Bay, Florida. She was a member of the Team USA Dragonboat Team which competed in the World Championships in Shanghai, China; Berlin, Germany; Sydney, Australia; and Szigid, Hungary. Fluent in English and German and adept at working in international locations and under pressure, Jacqueline will no doubt be a valuable team member this year again assisting with operations at the Gobi March.

Manish NAIR

Civil servant

Singapore

Manish Nair is a civil servant with the government of Singapore. Manish is an engineer and attended university in North Carolina. He cherishes the intensity of effort, and loves to push the limits. He is an highly structured and organised individual able to break down complex situations and tasks into smaller and discrete pieces. Outside of work, he maintains a very consistent daily schedule, including for sleep and exercise. The Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025 will be his first time at a RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon where he will volunteer along with his wife, Amelia Fong.

Annika VAN WELL

Company director / owner

Germany

Born in the northern part of Germany, Annika moved to Lagos, Nigeria during her early childhood where she attended primary school. After a short stay back in Germany, she moved to the US for some years, where she got the opportunity to get to know the American way of living. After finishing her school in Germany, she worked in the international logistics sector, followed by work within a global operating company. She is now running her own business which has helped her to be very opened minded to people, work with people from various backgrounds and nationalities, as well as learning to come up with solutions to a problem, including improvising.

Ricardo VAZQUEZ

Owner

Spain

Ricardo Vazquez lives in Spain and has 35 years of experience in endurance sports including the triathlon, trail running, skimo, climbing. He is also a Mountain Guide (International UIMLA) and a member of the Spanish Mountain Guide Association (AEGM). He has owned a variety of businesses over the years including Netdisplay and SafesportID. The Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025 will be his first time as a volunteer at RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons.

Chiara GARCIA

Student

United States

Chiara Garcia grew up watching her dad compete as an ultramarathon runner and being involved with RacingThePlanet, which sparked her passion for travel and exploring new places. She is currently a student at Florida State University, studying Exercise Physiology with plans to become a Physical Therapist. She is very dedicated to her academics, but she is equally excited about opportunities to step outside the classroom and experience what the rest of the world has to offer. Coming from a family with roots in Argentina, she values cultural connections and "can’t wait to contribute to this incredible event while broadening my horizons."

Leonie DIEMONT

Student

South Africa, Resident in Germany

Leonie enjoy outdoor sports and has developed an interest in the RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons since her Dad took part in his first race (Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016). She is also a keen scuba diver and spent three months on a volunteer Marine Conservation program in Madagascar. She enjoys volunteering, especially when it is combined with spending time in remote, beautiful locations.

Linda CLARK

Risk Manager

United States

Linda Clark from California in the United States joins her second RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon as a volunteer having previously volunteered at RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan). She is a risk manager in transportation in Los Angeles, but her background is in engineering and business operations and she was an Air Force reservist in civil engineering where she was the training and logistics officer helping to plan construction activities and training events in tropical and desert climates. Linda is also active herself having walked the Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela (about 770 km/478 mi) in about 30 days.

Sanae KONDO

Retired

Japan

Sandy Kondo from Japan has volunteered at sixteen RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts ultramarathons - she also raced at the Sahara Race, RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2012 and Madagascar 2014. Sandy worked for the South African Embassy in Tokyo before retiring in 2023 and has managed the RacingThePlanet office in Japan for more than ten years. She is a natural organizer with a flair for multi-tasking. Kind and generous, Sandy is one of our best known cheer-leaders and has assisted dozens of RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon competitors in preparing for the races. She also works and volunteers at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, Tokyo Marathon in Japan and, most importantly, multiple RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons.

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Australia

As a member of the 4 Deserts Club, Colin Suckling from Melbourne, Australia works as a Business Manager with the Education Department but say, “I am secretly just an adventure seeker”. Colin and his wife raced and completed the Sahara Race (Egypt) in 2010. He says "it was so tough, but it set us up for many more adventures and helped define a part of me". He went on to complete the Gobi March (China) 2011, Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012 and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2012 to join the 4 Deserts Club. It has also widened his eyes to travel and the big world out there and he has taken on his fair share of independent multi-day hikes. As well as completing four RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons, Colin has also volunteered twice at the Namib Race (Namibia) 2018 and 2019 - and also turned up at the finishline of RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2014 as a surprise to his wife who was racing and won the race!! He loves working like minded people and giving back to RacingThePlanet. We look forward to welcoming Colin back to the RacingThePlanet family for the seventh time at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025.

Michelle SUNKEL

Social Worker / Faculty

United States

Dr. Michelle Sunkel, is a licensed clinical social worker and addiction counselor with 20 years of clinical experience and 14 years in higher education. She has spent her career supporting vulnerable populations, particularly those with severe mental illness, in a variety of settings such as emergency departments, psychiatric hospitals, jails, and outpatient therapy. Her passion extends to international social work which has taken her across three continents to contributed to healthcare advocacy, program development, and cultural collaboration. Michelle is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys running, hiking, biking and many other outdoor sports. She was a volunteer at RacingThePlanet: Georgia 2022, and we are excited that she will be returning to volunteer again, this time at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025.

Douglas FERGUSSON

Consultant

United Kingdom, Resident in Hong Kong

Douglas is a life-long resident of Hong Kong where he worked in the finance sector for many years. He competed in the Gobi March 2005 and the Atacama Crossing 2006, and was a volunteer at the Gobi March 2006. His wife and daughter have completed numerous RacingThePlanet Ultramarathons. Douglas can't wait to explore Mongolia and support racers from all over the world.

Madeline BROWN

Student

United States

Madeline Brown is currently a student attending Holy Innocents' Episcopal School located in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves the outdoors having spent time backpacking, white water rafting, and rock climbing through the state of Colorado; two weeks trekking, sea kayaking, and white water rafting through the country of Iceland; and two weeks in Fiji earning her PADI scuba certification, while completing five days of volunteer work in Fijian villages. In June of 2025, she will spend two weeks immersing herself in Moroccan culture through the Global Issues program at her school. Shortly after the Gobi March 2025, she will spend two weeks trekking in Slovenia and then visiting the neighboring countries of Croatia, Hungary, and Italy, learning about their cultures and traditions.

Ning YANG

Manager

China

Ning (NY) Yang is a manager for GE Healthcare based in Beijing, China. NYis a bilingual speaker of English and Mandarin. He is joining his third RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon as a volunteer at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025.

Janka DOLEZAL

Life Coach

Germany

Janka Dolezal from Cologne, Germany. She is a life coach who helps people to heal their childhood trauma and live a prosperous life. The Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025 is her eleventh time at a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon having been on the volunteer team at the Namib Race (Namibia) 2022 and 2024, RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2022 and 2023, the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023 and 2024, RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year-Race (Jordan) and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2024. Her partner Ivan has participated in most of the RacingThePlanet 4 Deserts Ultramarathons and is aiming to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2025. Janka is full of energy, funny, positive, strong, supportive and not afraid of really hard work.

Georgia BAMBER

Life Coach

Australia

Georgia is an experienced endurance athlete, life coach, and writer with a passion for adventure and a deep appreciation for the camaraderie and spirit of ultra-endurance events. As an ultramarathon runner and Ironman finisher, she understands the physical and mental demands of a race like the Gobi March. She is also a surf lifesaver, trained in CPR and first aid, which equips her to handle challenges in high-pressure environments effectively and safely. This year, she has a personal connection to the Gobi March, as her husband, Mark, and stepson, Harry, will be competing. Volunteering presents a unique opportunity for her to experience the inspiring RacingThePlanet atmosphere firsthand, while supporting the incredible athletes who are pushing their limits. It’s also a chance to be part of the adventure alongside her family, contributing to a race that embodies determination, resilience, and the pursuit of extraordinary goals. Georgia is excited to assist in creating a positive and memorable experience for all involved.

GOBI MARCH (MONGOLIA) 250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON

DAYS TO GO

Race Coverage

RACE Coverage

Andrea MORGAN

Almost Retired....

Jeongin RYU

Joanna STOREY

Netball Coach

Gvido DOLGAIS

Kosima BüSING

Purchasing Manager

Benita DAUGERTE

Sangmin LEE

Nerissa PERUMAL

Doctorate Student

Doug BRAATEN

Retired

Emujin BATJARGAL

Tour Guide

Amelia FONG

Chief of Staff

Jacqueline EASTRIDGE

Teacher

Manish NAIR

Civil servant

Annika VAN WELL

Company director / owner

Ricardo VAZQUEZ

Owner

Chiara GARCIA

Student

Leonie DIEMONT

Student

Linda CLARK

Risk Manager

Sanae KONDO

Retired

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Michelle SUNKEL

Social Worker / Faculty

Douglas FERGUSSON

Consultant

Madeline BROWN

Student

Ning YANG

Manager

Janka DOLEZAL

Life Coach

Georgia BAMBER

Life Coach

Andrea MORGAN

Almost Retired....

Jeongin RYU

Joanna STOREY

Netball Coach

Gvido DOLGAIS

Kosima BüSING

Purchasing Manager

Benita DAUGERTE

Sangmin LEE

Nerissa PERUMAL

Doctorate Student

Doug BRAATEN

Retired

Emujin BATJARGAL

Tour Guide

Amelia FONG

Chief of Staff

Jacqueline EASTRIDGE

Teacher

Manish NAIR

Civil servant

Annika VAN WELL

Company director / owner

Ricardo VAZQUEZ

Owner

Chiara GARCIA

Student

GOBI MARCH (MONGOLIA)
250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON