Lauren, 20, is driving old banger 10,000 miles for charity (From Echo)

Lauren, 20, is driving old banger 10,000 miles for charity

6:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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A MODEL is leaving behind the glamorous life of the catwalk to drive to Mongolia in a £300 Ford Fiesta.

Lauren Ridealgh, 20, who models for lingerie company Ann Summers, will be driving 10,000 miles in the old banger to raise cash for charity.

The former FitzWimarc School pupil started modelling after enrolling on a law course at Seevic, and was snapped up for her first shoot aged just 16.

Now, as well as Ann Summers, she is the face of clothes company Vestry, and has appeared on ITV show This Morning and in various music videos.

But Lauren is giving it all up for six weeks to take part in the Mongol Rally, which sees people drive to the country in old cars while raising cash for charity.

She will take a ferry from England to France, then drive through Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Mongolia.

She said: “I have never slept in a tent before, it’s going to be really different. I have been really excited about it, but I am getting a bit nervous as it is getting closer now. It is going to be very uncomfortable.

“I have been really rationed down as to what I can bring, two pairs of shoes, one pair of shorts and jeans in just a bag.

“From Russia to Mongolia you have to carry all your own fuel as there are no petrol stations, so I will be sat in a car surrounded by petrol cans in the heat.

“I have appealed for solar-powered hair straighteners, but so far no one has been able to find any.”

Lauren still lives with her mum Louise, 59, in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, but spends most of her time in London.

Louise said: “She will be going without high heels or make-up, just a carrier bag full of clothes.

“I was worried when she said she was going to do it – she has never done anything like this before.”

Lauren is raising money for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, which provides long- term care for sick youngsters, and Clic Sargent, which cares for young cancer patients.