Mongolia or bust!

On Saturday a group of car rally enthusiasts left London's Hyde Park at the beginning of a planned 16,000 km journey to Mongolia.

Among those taking part is former Te Puke man Leon Richdale, who is tackling the epic journey with teammate Martin Livingston, in a small hatchback.

In about five weeks they hope to arrive in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, having made their way through eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The rally - which has been going five years - is raising money for children's charities in Mongolia.

Leon, 22, says he is a proud Te Puke boy, having attended primary, intermediate and high school in town.

But for the past six months he and his Sydney-sider pal Martin have been living and working in London, with much of that time being spent raising sponsorship for the trip and fitting out their 1991 1200cc Nissan Micra.

Leon met up with Martin in Sydney, where he lived four years before travelling to London.

The men are enthusiastic but say the full scope of the adventure has still not quite sunk in.

Their team, named Paddy Roo, has already used sponsorship to raise 1400 ($3665) for the charities MercyCorps Mongolia and Hope and Homes for Children, though the goal is a minimum of 2000.

On the rally there are no guarantees of participants' safety, with participants risking mechanical breakdowns in deserts or getting lost somewhere in the trackless wastes of the Gobi desert. Being attacked by bandits is another worrying possibility.

``Please help us and our charities by jumping on board and we will make a deference to in-need children all over the world,'' says Leon.

``With the knowledge that real people are going to be positively affected through our time and organisation I am happy to be a part of this event.

Leon says the life he craves is: ``Windows down, suspension under pressure and an eye on the petrol tank.''

Martin is motivated by experiencing the wonders of a world he has seen only on television.

``I want to stand in the wide open expanse that is far from my comfort zone, gaze into the skies free of light pollution and feel the camaraderie that you only get when you place yourself in situations like these.

``All these romantic views - maybe reality will catch up as soon as our Nissan fails, leaving us stranded in the desolate Gobi Desert after taking a wrong turn in the ever-changing (mass of) pathways that is Mongolia!

``Only time will tell - can't wait!''

To find out more visit Leon and Martin's Website: www.theadventurists.com/paddyroo