Christmas is a time when families get together.

So this year when you’re unwrapping your presents and tucking into your festive feast with your loved ones, spare a thought for thrill-seekers John and Rachael Calvert.

The fatherand daughter, from Otley and Saltaire, are breaking with tradition. While the rest of the Calverts – John’s wife and Rachael’s mum, her sister and their families – will be getting together as usual, John and Rachael will be spending their alternative Christmas Day in Marrakesh – one of the destinations they are visiting during their 4,000-mile charity rally.

The ‘dynamic duo’, dubbed Banger and Smash, are counting on their banger to get them there. The stipulation for participants taking part in the charity drive is that their vehicles must cost less than £400 and be a left-hand drive.

John sourced their 22-year-old Renault 5 from internet marketplace eBay. Local artist Raychel Perks, who is involved in art projects at Otley Courthouse, transformed the vehicle, painting a desert scene with camels on the doors and pinks stars on the wheels. “That’s to make it look girly!” laughs Rachael.

Businessman John, 61, hit on the idea of the banger rally three years ago while looking for adventure when he retired. “I like the idea of holidays being an adventure. We don’t like going on package holidays – all our holidays tend to be different but not quite as different as this one!” laughs John.

“Having recently retired and getting my bus pass, I decided the time had come for some serious fun and adventure. The rally is totally unsupported so there’s bound to be some hair-raising moments, whether that’s in the minefields of Mauritania or trying to not get lost in the Sahara.

“I am also looking forward to seeing how far we get on for three weeks in a very confined space. I hope this will be a fantastic experience to have gone through with my daughter.”

Globetrotter Rachael is used to travelling. “I have travelled quite a lot independently around Africa and all over the world so it was a good opportunity,” she says.

But the real driving force for them embarking on the Plymouth-Dakar Banjul challenge is John’s late mum Peggy who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease.

It is in her memory that John and Rachael are donating the proceeds of their charity challenge of a lifetime to the Cure Parkinson’s Trust, which funds research into the debilitating disease.

“It is one of the charities that we have a personal interest in because of what happened to mum,” says John.

The pair are hoping to raise £1 per mile – £4,000 – and have already kick-started their fundraising campaign.

They will also be championing the cause for improved oral health in the Gambia after Muirhead Dental Practice in Shipley and Greenside Dental Care in Cleckheaton contacted the pair asking if they would distribute some dental products.

The father and daughter adventurers set off last Friday lunchtime and were due to meet up with the 30 other rally teams in Southern Spain. They will cross to Morocco for the drive through Mauritania and Senegal on route to The Gambia. “It’s about team work. People are working together to get there,” says Rachael.

She says the reason why they are taking left-hand drive bangers is that they are leaving the vehicles in the Gambia where they will be auctioned off to locals. Proceeds will go to charity.

The rest of the Calverts are due to fly out to Gambia for a family reunion and they will all fly back together.

“My dad was saying it’s the first Christmas he won’t be spending with my mum,” says Rachael.

It will be her first time away from the family during the festivities too. “Probably the hardest thing is going to be for everyone back home because we are not going to be there and they will be worried about us as well.”

The family celebrated with a pre-Christmas gathering. “It will be strange but we’ve had Christmas already – we had a family do last weekend,” says John.

And their family have made sure they will be remembered on Christmas Day. Rachael says they’ve discovered a secret parcel among the camping equipment they are taking and the rest of the supplies packed into their team Renault.

“We have a mysterious box packed up in the car so there could be all sorts of Christmas goodies in there!” laughs Rachael.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some amazing parts of Africa while spending some serious bonding time with my Dad,” she adds. “It’s bound to be strange being just the two of us on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve but I’m sure the experience will bring us closer together – either that or we’ll fall out on the road out of Plymouth!” she laughs.

The Plymouth-Dakar Banjul Challenge leaves the UK on December 20 and is due to arrive in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Christmas Eve and Banjul, The Gambia, on January 9.

For more information or to pledge your support visit justgiving.com/bangerandsmash.