TWO local adventurers have started one of the world’s most challenging motor rallies to raise money for three charities.

Ed Blackwell from Callington and Mike Parlby from Yelverton, who are both 22 and fresh out of university, will be taking part in the Mongol Rally, hailed as the greatest motoring adventure on the planet.

The Mongol Rally thunders 10,000 miles across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia. There’s no backup, no support and no set route, and they will be driving a tiny 0.8 litre Daewoo Matiz.

They are doing this in aid of the ‘Backup Trust’, a charity that transforms lives affected by spinal cord injury and the Mongol Rally’s own chosen charity ‘Cool Earth’, which is dedicated to saving the rainforests.

They are also supporting the ‘Max Levene Trust’, a fund set up to help a young man who was paralysed at the age of 16 after breaking his neck in a freak accident whilst playing in a rugby match between Truro College and Kelly College in Tavistock back in 2010. Mike and Ed were part of the Kelly College team.

The boys started their adventure at Goodwood Race track on July 16, and having crossed the channel they will now be driving through 19 different countries, mostly over rough terrain, before reaching Ulan Ude in Russia.

Mike and Ed would also like to thank Rotary District 1175 Devon and Cornwall who are supporting their Mongol Rally initiative. If anyone would like to know more about their route they can visit www.bataarlatethannever.com

To help them raise more money for their chosen charities visit www.gofundme.com/ubpuc7w4 or to find out further information on their epic conquest, then contact Geri Parlby on 01822 852102.