On 1st July I leave England with Hortense, a beautifully presented 20-year old, who also happens to be a Renault 4L. We are setting out together on an overland trip to Ulaanbataar, capital of Mongolia. Why am I driving 10,000 miles in an old car that can barely reach 60 mph on a good road? Because it's time for an adventure and because in doing so I am hoping to raise lots of money for Hope and Homes for Children. This charity focuses on closing down state welfare institutions in Eastern Europe by reuniting children with their families or close relatives.

I will be part of the Mongol Rally, but am leaving three weeks before the official start date. My travels will take me a quarter of the way round the world, through France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzebekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia - over five mountain ranges and across three deserts.

If everybody who reads this donates I will reach my target of £5k. It's a modest target and I'd be pleased to raise it for such a worthy cause. Of course, I'll be meeting all my own expenses, including bail money, border control bribes, prison food subsidies and hopefully, repatriation costs.

Best wishes
-Nick

P.S. blog updates at www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/