It’s going to be one helluva trip.

Four brave young men have set out to travel from Cork to Mongolia in a vehicle best described as ‘a clapped out banger’ – all in an effort to help abused and abandoned dogs.

The Irish Reasonable Adventurers are taking part in the Mongol Rally, an intercontinental car rally known as the ‘Greatest Adventure in the World’, to raise funds for Cork’s Dog Action Welfare (DAWG) and the environmental charity Cool Earth.

The rules are simple: you can only take a farcically small vehicle of one litre or less, you’re completely on your own and you’ve got to raise £1000 for charity.

Typical routes head for Moscow, Kiev or Istanbul, though teams have travelled as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Teams taking the Ukraine/Russia route or the more southerly Turkey and Iran route often converge at Samarkand, Uzbekistan before proceeding north-east for Mongolia.

The final leg of the rally takes surviving vehicles into Mongolia and on to finish back in Russia in Ulan-Ude.

After a minor delay with Visas, the gang will be setting off shortly.

“It will be 20,000km of highs and lows, thrills and spills, laughs and tears across five mountain ranges and three deserts.” note the lads.

“While we’re at it we’ll be recording as much of the experience as possible and sharing it with you all a documentary we’ll be putting together upon completion of the rally.”

Follow their progress as they make their way to the other side of the world and find out how you can donate to the cause here.

Bon voyage, boys.