DRIVING through a vast West African desert in an ambulance filled with shoe boxes may not be everyone’s idea of a relaxing St Stephen’s Day.

However, while most people will be sleeping off their turkey dinner this Boxing Day, a daring duo from Bovingdon will be setting out on exactly that unlikely trip.

Nic Leon, owner of Leon Catering, and his chef, Gary Chance, will be one of about 30 brave teams leaving the south coast on December 26 in this year’s Plymouth to Dakar Rally – the slightly less famous sibling of the Paris to Dakar Rally.

As well as pitting themselves against the roughest, most bum-numbing terrain Europe and Africa has to offer, the pair are also hoping to take valuable supplies to a local school in Georgetown, Gambia.

Nic, of Chipperfield Road, says the pair are also aiming to raise money for three causes; Bovingdon Primary School, Luton and Dunstable Hospital as well as the Georgetown Trust.

He explained: “My eldest daughter was born three months prematurely there and she only weighed 1lb 4oz.

“She is now six and we just wanted to give something back to them.

“Both my daughters go to Bovingdon Primary School, our local school, and finally the Georgetown Trust is a charity my brother set up, so we are supporting that too.”

In Gambia many boys have to pay for their school education, while girls are allowed to learn for free.

Nic’s brother, Richard, set up the Georgetown Trust in 2004, after visiting the country. Since then it has put more than 500 boys through school.

However, not satisfied with simply raising money for the three worthy causes, Nic and Gary are intent on delivering their ambulance – intact – to a Georgetown hospital, as well as giving classroom supplies to a local school.

And for that task, Nic has enlisted the help of pupils at Bovingdon Primary School.

He said: “Part of the reason for me doing it is that we have created a link between Georgetown Primary School and Bovingdon Primary School”, “My brother went out in September and asked what the primary school needed.

“The idea now is that each child at Bovingdon will get together a shoe box filled with pens and paper and old clothes and we will take it over.”

The rules of the rally state that entrants must travel in a car costing no more than £100 – or take an ambulance to be donated to a local community.

And having already bought one ambulance Nic and Gary have since been donated a “better” one for free.

They are now busy trying to raise £5,000 and preparing for the 6,000 mile, three week trip – a task further complicated by an imminent arrival. My wife Tania is expecting our third child on November 24”, Nic confessed.

“She is the one that told me to go to raise the money though – so I am trying to look after her as well.”

n For information about the charity visit www.thegeorgetowntrust.co.uk and to donate money visit www.lionsofchance.co.uk.