17 jalopies take on 6 450km journey

Gallery Video

GEORGE NEWS - Seventeen funky and colourful old jalopies this morning were given an enthusiastic and loud send-off by Laerskool George-Suid learners on a tour of 6 450km around South Africa's borders.

The car owners, from various parts of the country, are all members of the Nuts and Bolts Rally and the tour is a celebration of their 10th anniversary.

It is also an ambitious fundraiser for charity. They hope to arrive at Agulhas on 27 October after having toured the East coast up to Sodwana, through the Kruger Park from south to north, all along the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana towards Kgalagadi, then along the Namibian border towards and down the West Coast to finish at Agulhas. From there all the participants will travel back to their homes.

Pieter Anderson, Nuts and Bolts founder, said they will be trying to raise R250 000 for each of four charities, namely Choc (Children Living with Cancer), UCPA (United Cerebral Palsy Association), Smile Foundation (for children affected by facial abnormalities) and Goldilocks and the Bear Foundation (which focuses on mental health). They raise funds through a non-profit organisation called More Than Adventure.

He says their "weird" and fun cars help to deliver a message of overcoming difficulties and challenges.

"Our idea is not simply a fundraiser, but a life-changing event for us and a metaphor for the journey that many charities often endure.

"The journey is difficult, unpredictable, challenging, never embarked upon alone or as an individual, yet rather with the help and support of others."

VIDEO: Pieter Anderson talks about their journey:

Each car is of course equipped with a toolbox. One of the participants, Vivian Roche from Plattekloof who travels in his 50-year-old Chevrolet, says they make sure that the brakes, wheels, steering wheel and engines are in good working condition and safe.

"The clock on my car has turned over a couple of times. It used to be a chicken pen, but I towed it away and gave it a little love, and now it goes well."

Francois Louw from Centurion's 1971 1600 Beetle, called The Crazy Bug, focuses attention on the Goldilocks and The Bear Foundation. Morné Fourie from Alberton is driving Mieliepit, a bright yellow 1980 Mazda 323 covered in stickers.

Mieliepit has completed 10 rallies so far. Fourie's co-rider could not get leave to accompany him on the tour, so he is taking along Frikkie, his skeleton friend that creates awareness around the dangers of smoking.

Morné Fourie from Alberton and Frikkie the skeleton are travelling in Mieliepit, a 1980 Mazda 323.

Anderson says over the 10 years since the inception of Nuts and Bolts in 2014 they have provided monetary support to various communities, organisations, people and animals in need. For more information on how you can donate to their cause, visit www.nutsandboltsrally.co.za.

The public can also follow their progress on the Nuts & Bolts Facebook page.

GALLERY: Jalopies embark on journey around South Africa

Vivian Roche from Plattekloof travels in his 50-year-old Chevrolet. His wife made a gift card for its 50th birthday that was fastened under the bonnet.