GENEVA (AP) — A Chinese-American teenager wants to become the youngest person to travel solo to all seven continents. He also hopes to raise money for pediatric cancer research in the process.
Ethan Guo, who turned 19 last month, began his journey in Memphis, Tennessee, in May, making several overnight stops and visiting seven countries to arrive in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday before flying on to Heraklion, Greece.
The plan is to cover 80,000 kilometers in 100 days, with stops in 60 countries. He hopes the attention surrounding the trip will attract donations and raise up to $1 million for cancer research. This ambition was born when one of his cousins was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer.
This prompted the disheveled-haired teenager to contact St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
“We came up with the idea of … how we can work together,” Guo said, “how we can make this world a better place.”
So far he has raised about $20,000, but is confident that more donations will come in.
A spokesman for Guo showed The Associated Press an email exchange with an employee at Guinness World Records Ltd. about the teenager’s hope to become the youngest person to fly solo around seven continents. The London-based company did not immediately respond to an email from AP seeking comment.
Guo started flying at age 13 and had his pilot’s license four years later, but insurance companies refused to cover a minor for his adventure, so he had to wait. He has logged 700 hours of flight time and flown to all 48 contiguous states in the United States.
On the tarmac near Geneva airport, Guo said only about one out of 10 companies he had suggested as sponsors had actually agreed.
Logos of companies large and small adorn Guo’s modified four-seat Cessna 182. Visitors can follow his progress on the website flightagainstcancer.com.
Guo was born in Tianjin, China, and currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. He said he wanted to become a pilot to challenge himself. He envisions a career in business and technology, not aviation.
Guo’s parents were concerned about his project and actively tried to stop him, forcing him to complete the project on his own with the help of volunteers, sponsors and other supporters, he said.
He is aware of the risks.
“My experiences – such as an engine failure right at the beginning of the trip … forced me to confront the fact that I could die at any point during the trip,” he said.
He has made preparations, such as outfitting the plane with cold-weather gear for Antarctica, a survival kit in case he gets stranded in the desert, and an inflatable boat in case he ends up at sea.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid,” Guo said. “But I affirm myself every day. I say, ‘This is what I believe in.’ (…) So I will keep fighting until the end.”
