Ulaanbaatar or bust for driven duo

Two friends are to drive just under 10,000 miles from Edinburgh to Mongolia in a challenge of a lifetime.

Jim Keating, 31, and Dave Maraid-Reynolds, 29, are representing Edinburgh in the Mongol Rally challenge this summer.

They hope to take their 800 Nissan Micra, which they claim is already struggling to pass its MOT, across the globe to raise funds for Leith-based CCLASP, which supports children and families of children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.

They also hope to raise awareness for Christina Noble Children's Foundation, which changes the lives of children in Mongolia.

Jim, an environmental engineer, and Dave, a British Gas customer services advisor, are leaving their jobs on July 23 for four weeks to take on the once-in-a-lifetime challenge.

Although Jim has no vehicular mechanical skills, Dave can speak broken Russian and is confident his experience of owning several dilapidated cars may help them repair the 1.3L Micra along their way.

Jim said, "Taking a Ryanair flight to Mongolia was just too easy and we want to properly experience the cultures of the countries we're travelling through.

"I've travelled around Australia and the United States but you can't really say you've travelled unless you've had to move a herd of camels out of your path or blown a tyre in the outskirts on Kazakhstan."

"As well as the fun of it all, it's really about raising money for the charities, promoting local businesses that are supporting us and testing how good our organisation and crisis management skills are."

The pair are following in the footsteps of Stephen Edwards and Will Dodsworth, who on August 3, 2005 left London in a 1991 Vauxhall Nova 1.0 and drove 9600 miles to Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital.

It took them 76 days, visiting 18 countries and seeing rarely visited lands.

Jim and Dave will pass through 12 countries and eight time zones during the journey.

Dave added: "I've had a few rubbish cars in my time so I've become a bit of a dab hand at DIY mechanics.

"I'm pretty resourceful so being able to replace the diff with a handful of toothpicks, an empty can and some pre-chewed gum will come in handy in a desert in Ukraine, I feel.

"It's a great experience and it's all for a good cause so it's good to know that we are helping people while experiencing a true sense of adventure travel."

Jim and Dave successfully hosted an event at Henry's Cellar Bar in May, raising 350 for the cause and have a Soviet Bloc-themed bands night planned for the weekend of June 18 and a "see you later" barbecue planned for July 15.