AN Oxfordshire academic will swap his classroom for the open road to compete in a 5,000 -mile rally in memory of his sister.

David Wilkinson, who teaches at both Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities, had planned to take part in the Put Foot Rally across eight African countries with his sister Liz O’Connell.

But she died suddenly last June, aged 49, after battling cancer, before they could take the road trip.

Now Mr Wilkinson, 53, and Liz’s partner Rob Gardner, who lives in Durban, South Africa, plan to take on the challenge in her honour next month.

Called Team Liz, the pair will drive in a 1973 Volkswagen Kombi from Cape Town through Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland – 5,000 miles in just 17 days.

They will cross all manner of terrain, including areas with no roads, barren landscapes and foot-deep mud.

Mr Wilkinson, who lives in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, said: “The intention was for Liz, Rob and myself to do the rally.

“Tragically Liz died suddenly last June, so Rob and I decided to continue to do the rally in her name.

“ We have called ourselves Team Liz in her honour.

“Most people will be using 4x4s because of the terrain they will have to navigate.

“However, we are going to attempt the entire journey in a 1973 VW Kombi called Lulu, named after the dating website Rob and Liz met on.

“It’s going to be quite a testing time. Neither Rob or myself are mechanics, but I’m sure by the end we will be conversant with the inside of the VW.

“We are taking a big hammer and a Swiss army knife.”

They will be fundraising for two charities supported by Liz – the Put Foot Foundation which supplies shoes for African children, and Project Rhino, which protects rhinos from poachers.

The pair will visit African schools and fit the shoes to the children who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

Businessman and author Mr Wilkinson said: “I, like many people, thought that because African children grow up walking in bare feet it was alright.

“What I hadn’t understood was that one of the biggest threats to health in Africa are parasites which enter via the children’s feet.

“The consequences are dreadful. So we are delivering shoes and fitting them to children across southern Africa as we go.”

l People can keep track of the pair via social networking site Facebook.

For more information view facebook.com/TeamLiz2012