THEY say every journey in life begins with a single step – but in this case it started with a tango.

Former social worker Aseem Bandali on Saturday began his 80-day trip to dance his way to South America, the birthplace of his favourite kind of tango.

The Banbury resident joined people for a first tango class at the Botley Women’s Institute, in North Hinksey Lane, to raise cash for charity.

Mr Bandali, who has been practising Argentinian tango for three years, said: “We had a really good first session and raised just under £200. There was a very mixed class, including some people who had Parkinson’s, and that was great because we want it to be inclusive.

“Dance is something everyone can do, but some people just need a bit of support. It was a lot of fun and brought people together, we just danced and enjoyed ourselves.”

The ‘tangothon’ trip will raise cash for Parkinson’s UK, which offers support to people with Parkinson’s disease and funds scientific research.

Mr Bandali, who is on a career break, said he was next due to go on to London, then France, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco before finishing in Argentina.

His target is to raise £1,000, but he said this had already been beaten with £1,300 raised so far.

For information visit: justgiving.com/Tangoing2Argentinain80days/