A group of friends from the island and Australia will set off on a 10,000 mile adventure across 21 countries for charity.

Using two cars, Team Mad Manx will embark on a 75 day trip stretching from the island to Siberia on July 14.

Members include couple Adam and Fern Callister, 32 and 31, and Katharine Watling, 26 - who are all from Ramsey - plus Daniel Kennedy, 33, and Dan Simpson, 24, who are from Brisbane.

They are taking part in The Mongol Rally, run by company ’The Adventurists’, which has helped raise thousands of pounds for different causes through a variety of intrepid challenges.

’It’s something I’ve wanted to do since the event’s launch around 10 years ago,’ said Adam. ’We love the idea of visiting places that we wouldn’t otherwise venture to if we weren’t taking part in this challenge, and the chance to raise money for such a worthy cause is a massive bonus.’

In 2016, the team took on The Adventurists Rickshaw Run where they travelled on tuk-tuks through the entire length of India to raise funds for Hospice Isle of Man and the event’s official partner called Cool Earth.

’We did a bit of travelling after our India trip but we were starting to get itchy feet again,’ Adam said.

’As a group we managed to raise just shy of £3,000 for Hospice IOM and it would be amazing if we could replicate that feat this time around.’

This year the team has gained new members (the two Daniels) and has lost a few faces from the previous trip as they cannot make it.

The rules which the team must follow are: the vehicles must have an engine size of under 1200cc and cost participants less than £500 each; rally organisers will not set the route, provide support or supervision and each team must raise at least £1,000 for their charity of choice.

One of their vehicles is a baby blue Toyota Starlet that was previously owned by a Ms Carter in the north of the island who recently turned 104.

’She really wanted to come along but she already had a very busy schedule. We are opting for second best and taking a photo of her along with us in the car,’ Adam said.

’I’m hoping that we will have the cars prepped and wrapped in fake neon fur in the next four weeks or so.’

He added that they are ’very excited’ about the trip, ’but flat out with admin’.

’The visa process is a bit of a handful as we are trying to juggle when the various embassies need our passports; especially in the case of Iran, Russia and Turkmenistan.

’We are hopeful that the cars make it without too much persuasion, but you never know.’

He added: ’The Pamir Highway bordering China and Afghanistan is a known car wrecker and we are going to be dragging us and all of our gear up to a height of 4,600m on the mountain pass.’

The team will be covering the cost of the trip in its entirety and any money raised will go straight to the two charities.

It’s estimated that the trip will cost £9,000 per car. They are seeking assistance with: tyres; spare parts; tools; car prep and service; camping gear; off island ferry travel; mechanical breakdowns; travel and motor insurance.

’We are still on the look out for local businesses who might be interested in having their branding adorning our cars,’ Adam said.

For more, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-mad-manx for Hospice IOM and www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-mad-manx-cool-earth for Cool Earth. The team’s Facebook page is called: Team Mad Manx on the Mongol Rally, and its Instagram page is @teammadmanx.