STUDENT nurse Sarah Martin is relying on a 1979 1.1L Ford Fiesta to take her through bandit country in an astonishing 8,000-mile charity road trip to Mongolia.

Having never been further than back-packing in Ireland, Sarah's place in the Mongol Rally 2006 is quite an undertaking.

The part-time health care assistant from Upton-upon-Severn is one of a four-strong team of Swansea University students braving mountain plains and arid desert in countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan.

At the moment the most worrying thing for Sarah's team is whether their old banger will be up to the challenge.

Sarah, 22, said: "We're not going to have a support crew, there's a likelihood that we're going to break down frequently and none of us speak the language. We'll probably encounter bandits. It'll be by the skin of our teeth if we make it.

"My mum's quite nervous but they're really proud and positive about the charities we're supporting."

Researching the countries they are passing through to try and avoid causing offence is one way the team hopes to stay out of danger.

So far Sarah has learned that, when having a drink in Mongolia you have to hold the bottom of the glass, not around it, and you should only walk around a fire in a certain direction.

The group leaves on Saturday, July 22. Money raised will be split between Send a Cow, which provides livestock and horticultural training in Africa, and the Christina Nobel Children's Foundation, which provides education and support for Mongolia's street children.

Anyone who can help through sponsorship, buying advertising space on the car, or by making donations such as petrol or spare parts, should call 07779773116.