A Mongolia rallying cry

To get away from it all, there is really no place quite like Mongolia - and the 17,000km stretch of road connecting London to it. Embarking on this 16-country journey in a rickety, non-air-conditioned Ford Fiesta at the height of the summer may seem ludicrous to some, but for me and an old school friend it presented the adventure of a lifetime. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to raise money for Cool Earth (protecting rain forests) and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Some highlights of the journey included getting held up by the Turkish military at gunpoint, fending off endless Iranian hospitality, and coming eye to eye with the devil at Turkmenistan's gates to hell. But the fun really started in Mongolia, where getting stuck in a river crossing, wrestling with our mechanic, and breaking down in the middle of the Gobi desert was considered a fairly average day. If all of this sounds like your cup of tea, then be sure to check out the Mongol Rally www.theadventurists.com/mongol-rally/ and donate to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/keepbreathing