AN EAST Lancashire man is set to attempt a 9,000-mile rally through the Gobi Desert in an old ambulance in a bid to raise charity cash.

Jonathan Hummer, 26, will take on the Mongol Rally, travelling a third of the way around the globe, with four friends in memory of his mother, Claire, who died in March 2005 from cancer, aged just 45.

The rally will take in some of the wildest and most remote places on earth.

They will raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and have even received a message of support from actor David Jason, who is a patron for the charity.

He said: "I wish the team every success with their race and that, through their donation, the charity will go on to research and improve the lives of those people affected by this life-changing illness.

"Please give them your support, you know it makes sense!"

Mr Hummer, who lives in Warwick Road, Blackburn, and works as an administrator for Conntech in Hapton, said: "It will be the journey of a lifetime, both physically and mentally.

"From getting to see many different countries and cultures, to a mental journey where I will learn things not only about my friends, but also myself.

"A fire was lit up beneath me when we decided we would be raising money for breast cancer prevention and awareness, a cause which I feel very strongly about having lost my mum after a six year battle with the disease."”

The rally will see the group set off from Goodwood Racecourse in Sussex in July before heading through Europe, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan, before the rally finishes in the Mongolian capital Ulaan Baatar around four weeks later.

The ambulance, which is almost 10 years old, will be donated to local good causes.

To sponsor the team and to find out more visit http://mongolia5.com.