A SELF-styled 'new age entrepreneur' is to fulfil the dream of a lifetime by travelling from Tipperary to Timbuktu in an L-reg Ford Escort and a 1960s caravan.

The Coppull dad-of-two is hoping to complete the epic journey from Ireland to the famously remote town in Mali, West Africa in just three months -- and will take no money or provisions with him.

Stanley Storton's friends will even take bets on him completing the journey, with all the proceeds to be donated to Oxfam.

Stanley, of Mavis Drive, is planning to leave Chorley on Sunday, September 19, and aims to live off the proceeds of puppet shows he will give to children along the way.

He said: "As long as I have an egg butty in my hand and a cup of tea, I'm happy!

"I'm not taking a penny with me, but I'll survive because I've lived in lots of different countries without money before. I'll sing for my supper all the way.

"I've totally replaced the engine in the car and the caravan repairs will be finished soon, so I'm sure I'll make it."

The 52-year-old decided to make the journey after a health scare in June -- when he had to have a blood transfusion and was minutes from death.

His experience came on the same day he divorced the wife he had married just two months earlier in Las Vegas.

He said: "I've thought about doing this journey all my life, but have never really had the emotional stability or presence of mind to try it.

"After what happened to me in June I realised I just had to get out there and do it.

"So I bought the caravan and the car and started to do them up."

Stanley will wear his 'Jilabah' garment throughout his journey. He says the long brown garment is the perfect clothing for all weathers.

He hopes local people will donate spectacles so he can give them out to people in Africa, where glasses cost a month's wages.

He said: "I'm not in any rush to get there and will take no particular route.

"I'll be stopping off along the way to see friends in North Africa and Germany and the road through the Sahara is often blocked, so I may have to take the caravan on a low-rider for some sections of the trip.

"I think the journey should be roughly around 15,000 miles and I'll probably be there around Christmas time."

Stanley has already rented out his home to friends and is due to leave Coppull for Tipperary after a family fun day he is holding at the Red Herring pub, Mill Lane, from 2pm on Sunday, September 19.

Anyone who wants to donate a pair of old spectacles should take them along on the day.