A trail-blazing team of students are not only raising money to buy three vehicles to help people in Mongolia, but are to drive them the 10,000 miles there.
A 12-strong group from St Andrews University have signed up for the Mongolia Charity Rally which will see them motor through Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
Along the way they will be helping out at aid centres, hospitals and charities.
Already, the team have raised enough money to buy one 4×4 but members are working hard to collect more cash for another 4×4 and an ambulance before their departure in June.
The group Adrian Thomas, Alexandra Dennison, Calum Hawley, Chris Dollman, Georgina Paice, Henrietta Hammonds, John Hunt, Naomi McReynolds, Rachel Nugent, Sam Bugler, Sean Johnson and Will Bower are undertaking the challenge as part of the university’s charities campaign.
When they arrive in Mongolia, where much of the population are nomadic herders, they will hand over their vehicles to aid organisation Go Help which will distribute them to projects which need them.
The country is currently suffering a slowly unfolding natural disaster as a long severe winter following a summer drought, known as a dzud, is expected to lead to mass loss of livestock.
One of the projects the St Andrews to Mongolia challenge will benefit is the development of an orphanage in Ulaanbaatar to look after street children.
Other key projects which will be aided are a rehabilitation and education centre for disabled children, support for minority Kazakh children and the provision of riding helmets for child jockeys.Anyone who wishes to support the students can do so through their website, staagmongolia.wordpress.com