Two university friends will set off this weekend for a gruelling 10,000 mile adventure from London to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar.

Alice Paisley, from Hanley Castle, will team up with Juliet Waud, from Oxfordshire, to raise money for Save the Children while driving through more than a dozen countries over several weeks.

The 23-year-olds are being supported by Malvern firm Automated Packaging Systems, based in Enigma Business Park, who have provided them with an all-terrain ambulance to drive.

The vehicle will be donated to a hospital in Mongolia once the girls complete their challenge.

Miss Paisley, a former pupil at Malvern Girls College, now St James, said: “We’re doing it to push ourselves. It will be a big challenge for both of us.”

The girls are set to leave on Saturday (July 11), from Highbury Fields, in Islington, and have been busy preparing for the demanding trip.

Alice described herself as “apprehensive but still very excited” about the massive undertaking.

Juliet added: “I’m quite relaxed but just scared I’m not going to like the food.”

APS decided to sponsor the girls, including purchasing the ambulance and donating to Save the Children, to celebrate its 25th year.

European marketing manager Mike Healey said: “We’re a growing presence in the medical market and in our 25th year we decided we wanted to do some good in the world.”

A website will give members of the public the opportunity to keep up with the girls’ progress with regular blog updates, videos and pictures of their remarkable journey at apsmongoliarally.com.

Simeon Goldstein, Packaging News, 17 July 2009