THREE friends have set off on a month-long journey that will see them attempt to reach the depths of Russia in an old car.

Students Fergus Jones, Rob Treasure and Hugh Hammond left Oxford last week, travelling first to the Czech Republic to begin the 11,000 mile ‘Mongol Rally’.

Driving a 17-year-old one-litre Nissan Micra, the men will attempt to cover 20 countries, driving across mountains and desert with no back-up or support.

They are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for Maggie’s Oxford, the centre that has supported Mr Jones’ mother, Jane Jones, 55, with her cancer battle.

The 22-year-old from Bloxham said: “I just think it is such a good cause that has done so much for my mother.

“She has been fighting cancer and it has been a huge help and support to her and the family.

“Unfortunately most people will know someone who has been affected by cancer and will recognise how much good Maggie’s can do with our support.”

The trip has been months in the planning with the group first searching around the country for a suitable car.

Rally rules state the vehicle of choice must be a one-litre and advice given on the website includes: “Seek out a steed that most people wouldn’t even use for the weekly shop.”

With the planned route crossing ‘all the ‘stans’ (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - but not Afghanistan or Pakistan), visas also had to be arranged and they have taken part in short beginner mechanics courses for when things inevitably go wrong.

Speaking from Hungary, the first stop after departing the start-line near Prague, Mr Jones said: “The further we go, the less we know about the countries we are visiting.

“We have no air-conditioning and no luxuries so we’re driving down the motorway with all the windows open in 35C heat.

“A lot of the roads won’t be tarmacked and we have to keep the car in a good condition or face breaking down in the middle of the desert.”

He added: “We all studied real estate so none of us had much knowledge of car mechanics until we did the course. We could change a tyre – that was about it.

“You are constantly thinking about whether the car is going to make it, but it’s all very exciting.

"It’s going to be a big adventure and a big step into the unknown.”

Some £4,250 has already been raised by the group, exceeding their target, and now they are hoping to hit £6,000.

Claire Marriott, centre head at Maggie’s Oxford said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting Hugh, Fergus and Rob with their challenge and wish them the best of luck.”

The £3m Maggie's centre in the grounds of Headington's Churchill Hospital was completed in 2014.

It was officially opened in October that year by TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp and film director Richard Curtis.

The centre has four consulting rooms, kitchen and toilets, and opened with five volunteers and five paid members of staff.

Cancer patients are invited to the centre to get emotional and psychological support which is supposed to be complementary to the medical and clinical treatment they can get at the Churchill.

Supports is provided by psychologists, a nutritional advisor and cancer support advisers alongside support groups.

To sponsor the Mongol Rally team go to justgiving.com/fundraising/mongolrally-18 and follow their progress via: @khandrivenomore on social media.