PHILEAS Fogg’s 80-day voyage involved railways and steamboats.

Aseem Bandali, who has been practising Argentinian tango for three years in Oxford, will be relying on his dancing shoes.

On Saturday, Mr Bandali will start an 80-day pilgrimage, not quite circumnavigating the globe, but to the dance’s birthplace in South America.

Former social worker Mr Bandali, who recently took a career break, will start in Oxford, travelling through France, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco before heading to Argentina, while raising money for Parkinson’s UK.

He has been inspired by his friend and fellow tango dancer Antony Brown, 74, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008.

The 43-year-old, a member of the Tango Aurora Oxford group, said: “It all started when I was living in London four years ago where I was dating a jazz composer. We went along to a one-off tango session and from then I was hooked.

When I moved to Oxford I found out my landlady had also taken tango lessons, so it meant I could find a group here in the city to practise with.

“Earlier this year I had been thinking about doing an adventure and tango has been a passion of mine, so I thought why not combine them and do a holiday to Argentina.

“Antony is a part of the group I am in, I have other friends that have been supported by the charity and that’s why I went to one of their monthly meetings to say that I would be willing to support them.”

During the ‘Tangothon’ he will dance at social events in the countries he visits, and stop off to volunteer for various projects in return for meals and a bed.

On Saturday he will leave Oxford from the group’s base at the North Hinksey Women’s Institute in Botley at 3pm, before staying with family and friends in London. From there he will travel to Paris and volunteer with Le Puy-Batard, a charity which organises holidays for people with physical disabilities.

After crossing Europe he is aiming to travel to Morocco by boat, before catching a cargo ship to Buenos Aires – hopefully arriving 80 days after his adventure started.

The Banbury resident said: “I’m looking forward to the excitement and the adventure, I love travelling and meeting new people.”

During his journey Mr Bandali is hoping to raise £1,000 to support the charity and has already collected £800. To attract more funding the dancer is also offering his car as an advertising billboard for companies..

Parkinson’s UK director of fundraising Paul Jackson-Clark said: “I’d like to wish Aseem the very best of luck with his challenge. Dancing is beneficial for many people with Parkinson’s. It’s a very enjoyable social activity and can help with movement, balance and flexibility.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/Tangoing2Argentinain80days