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Teen vies for record solo flight to 7 continents to raise money for childhood cancer research

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Teen vies for record solo flight to 7 continents to raise money for childhood cancer research
News

News

Teen vies for record solo flight to 7 continents to raise money for childhood cancer research

2024-08-07 13:34 Last Updated At:13:41

GENEVA (AP) — A Chinese American teen is vying to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents in a quest that also aims to drum up donations for research into childhood cancer.

Ethan Guo, who turned 19 last month, began his quest in May in Memphis, Tennessee. He made multiple overnight stops and visited seven countries to get to the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday, before jetting off toward Heraklion in Greece.

The plan is to cover 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) over 100 days with stops in 60 countries. He hopes attention to the journey will drum up donations and raise up to $1 million for cancer research, an ambition born of the Stage-4 blood cancer diagnosis for a cousin of his.

That prompted the tousled-haired teen to reach out to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital based in Memphis.

“We came up with the idea of ... how we can work on this together,” Guo said, "how we can make this world a better place.”

So far, he has raised about $20,000, but he's convinced he will draw more donations.

A press handler for Guo showed The Associated Press an email exchange with an official at Guinness World Records Ltd. about the teen's hope to become the youngest person to fly solo to seven continents. The London-based company did not immediately respond to an email from the AP seeking comment.

Guo started learning to fly at age 13, and four years later had his pilot's license, but insurance companies balked at covering a minor for his adventure, so he had to wait. He has clocked 700 flight hours and flown to all of the 48 contiguous states in the U.S.

On the tarmac near Geneva airport, Guo said only about one in 10 of the companies he pitched to become sponsors actually came through.

Logos of companies large and small adorn Guo's modified four-seater Cessna 182. Visitors can track his progress on the website flightagainstcancer.com.

Born in Tianjin, China, and currently living in West Palm Beach, Florida, Guo said he wanted to become a pilot to challenge himself. He foresees a career in business and tech, not aviation.

Guo's parents were worried about his project and actively tried to stop him, forcing him to do it on his own with help from volunteers, sponsors and other supporters, he said.

He understands the risks.

“Through my experiences — like an engine failure on the very beginning of the trip ... I was forced to face the fact that I could die at any point of the trip,” he said.

He’s made preparations like stocking the plane with cold-weather gear for Antarctica, a survival kit if he gets stranded in the desert, and an inflatable raft if he lands in an ocean.

“I’ll be lying to tell you if I wasn’t scared,” Guo said. “But every day I reaffirm myself. I say ‘This is what I believe in.' (...) So I’m going to fight on until the very end.”

This story corrects the hospital's name to St. Jude instead of Saint Jude.

American pilot Ethan Guo, right, prepares his airplane in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, before his take off from Geneva Airport for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo, right, prepares his airplane in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, before his take off from Geneva Airport for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo takes off from Geneva Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo takes off from Geneva Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo takes off from Geneva Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo takes off from Geneva Airport in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo poses for the photographer in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, before his take off from Geneva Airport for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

American pilot Ethan Guo poses for the photographer in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, before his take off from Geneva Airport for attempting a world record solo flight to all seven continents. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

TÓQUIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--jan 22, 2025--

Uma nova Floresta de Atletismo em grande escala e mais obras de arte serão inauguradas no teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM em Toyosu, Tóquio (teamLab Planets) em 22 de janeiro de 2025.

Este comunicado de imprensa inclui multimédia. Veja o comunicado completo aqui: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250120876047/pt/

teamLab, Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest (c) teamLab - There are various extinct animals that live in this Extinct Forest. When you move close to the animals or touch them, they will run away or turn to face you.

O teamLab Planets aumentará sua área em 1,5 vezes, criando um novo e extenso espaço para apresentar os projetos educacionais do teamLab. As novas adições incluem o Athletics Forest, um espaço atlético criativo multidimensional e complexo; o Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest, onde os visitantes podem capturar e estudar animais extintos; e o Future Park, um espaço colaborativo para cocriação. Mais de 20 novas obras de arte serão exibidas.

Além disso, novos espaços foram introduzidos no museu, como a Orchid Glass House, onde os visitantes podem desfrutar de chá e bebidas rodeados por orquídeas; a Living Art Store, onde os visitantes podem levar para casa orquídeas replantadas; e a Sketch Factory, onde os desenhos criados pelos visitantes dentro do espaço de arte são transformados em produtos originais para levar para casa. A área externa com a Mesa do Vazio Negro, onde os visitantes podem desfrutar do Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo, também passará por uma grande renovação.

Ingressos até março de 2025 já estão disponíveis no site oficial.

teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM
https://www.teamlab.art/e/planets/
#teamLabPlanets
7 de julho de 2018 - Fim de 2027
Toyosu, Tóquio ( teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu 6-1-16, Koto-ku, Tóquio )

Vídeo em destaque
https://youtu.be/F7nODEETR4s

Kit de imprensa
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ir7d2aui794eo6z/AAChbzX5wPsQm8cgkQ2ViFD4a?dl=0

O texto no idioma original deste anúncio é a versão oficial autorizada. As traduções são fornecidas apenas como uma facilidade e devem se referir ao texto no idioma original, que é a única versão do texto que tem efeito legal.

Ver a versão original em businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250120876047/pt/

CONTACT: Departamento de Relações Públicas da teamLab Planets

E-MAIL:pr-info@planets.art

Para solicitações de entrevistas:https://forms.gle/fAtnDKLpQKFME6XR9

KEYWORD: JAPAN ASIA PACIFIC

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AUDIO/VIDEO ARTS/MUSEUMS THEME PARKS ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS EVENTS/CONCERTS TRAVEL OTHER EDUCATION OTHER TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION OTHER ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE

SOURCE: PLANETS Co., Ltd.

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 01/22/2025 04:51 AM/DISC: 01/22/2025 04:50 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250120876047/pt

teamLab, Waterfall Droplets, Flowing Down a Slope (c) teamLab - Many water droplets flow down a slope. A single droplet bounces like a ball, but when many are gathered together, they behave like water. When they break apart, they behave like a ball again. When people climb the steps up the hill, the droplets near the step receive energy and break apart.

teamLab, Waterfall Droplets, Flowing Down a Slope (c) teamLab - Many water droplets flow down a slope. A single droplet bounces like a ball, but when many are gathered together, they behave like water. When they break apart, they behave like a ball again. When people climb the steps up the hill, the droplets near the step receive energy and break apart.

teamLab, Sliding through the Fruit Field (c) teamLab - This is a slide where fruit grows. You become the sunlight and slide down the slope. When your body collides with the water balls and honey bee balls, your energy will be transferred to them, and they will go flying off in all directions. When the balls collide with the fruit, the fruit will begin to grow.

teamLab, Sliding through the Fruit Field (c) teamLab - This is a slide where fruit grows. You become the sunlight and slide down the slope. When your body collides with the water balls and honey bee balls, your energy will be transferred to them, and they will go flying off in all directions. When the balls collide with the fruit, the fruit will begin to grow.

teamLab, Graffiti Nature, Sketch Waterfall Droplets, Beating Earth (c) teamLab - All the various creatures drawn by everyone live in the inverted globe. Color in a creature on the paper provided, and see the picture you have drawn come to life and move in front of you.

teamLab, Graffiti Nature, Sketch Waterfall Droplets, Beating Earth (c) teamLab - All the various creatures drawn by everyone live in the inverted globe. Color in a creature on the paper provided, and see the picture you have drawn come to life and move in front of you.

teamLab, Balance Stepping Stones in the Invisible World (c) teamLab - Balance Stepping Stones are stepping stones that interactively change when a person steps on them, emitting a color and tone that affect the space. When a person steps on a stone, it wobbles in various ways.

teamLab, Balance Stepping Stones in the Invisible World (c) teamLab - Balance Stepping Stones are stepping stones that interactively change when a person steps on them, emitting a color and tone that affect the space. When a person steps on a stone, it wobbles in various ways.

teamLab, Multi Jumping Universe (c) teamLab - Multi Jumping is a flexible surface that people can jump on, and sink or jump higher than usual. When you stand on Multi Jumping, the surface beneath your feet sinks, creating warps in space and time. This distortion attracts stardust from the universe and births new stars. If you jump on top of a star, it begins to move, and if you continue to jump on the star it will grow and you will be able to experience the entire life cycle of the star.

teamLab, Multi Jumping Universe (c) teamLab - Multi Jumping is a flexible surface that people can jump on, and sink or jump higher than usual. When you stand on Multi Jumping, the surface beneath your feet sinks, creating warps in space and time. This distortion attracts stardust from the universe and births new stars. If you jump on top of a star, it begins to move, and if you continue to jump on the star it will grow and you will be able to experience the entire life cycle of the star.

teamLab, Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House (c) teamLab - Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Sphere is a space made up of spheres that people can jump on. The spheres rotate at high speed, but when people approach them, they stop rotating and become easier to step on.

teamLab, Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House (c) teamLab - Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Sphere is a space made up of spheres that people can jump on. The spheres rotate at high speed, but when people approach them, they stop rotating and become easier to step on.

teamLab, Sketch Factory, Cognitive Solidified Sparks (c) teamLab - This is a factory where the creatures that you draw can be made into an original item (tin badge, hand towel, T-shirt, tote bag or paper craft) and taken home.

teamLab, Sketch Factory, Cognitive Solidified Sparks (c) teamLab - This is a factory where the creatures that you draw can be made into an original item (tin badge, hand towel, T-shirt, tote bag or paper craft) and taken home.

teamLab, Tea and Sake in Spontaneous Order (c) teamLab - When a cup of tea or sake is poured, the tea or sake begins to glow with its own unique rhythm and produce a tone. A spontaneous order phenomenon occurs between the teas, sake or the lamps of Nursery Lamps in Spontaneous Order that are close by. As they influence each other, gradually the rhythms of light and color of the teas or sake synchronize. You drink a part of that order.

teamLab, Tea and Sake in Spontaneous Order (c) teamLab - When a cup of tea or sake is poured, the tea or sake begins to glow with its own unique rhythm and produce a tone. A spontaneous order phenomenon occurs between the teas, sake or the lamps of Nursery Lamps in Spontaneous Order that are close by. As they influence each other, gradually the rhythms of light and color of the teas or sake synchronize. You drink a part of that order.

teamLab, Nursery Lamps in Spontaneous Order (c) teamLab - The orchids from Floating Flower Garden whose flowers have fallen come to this space and are nurtured surrounded by lamps. Each lamp glows to its own rhythm. Over time, nearby lamps and Tea and Sake in Spontaneous Order cause a spontaneous order phenomenon, and they influence each other.

teamLab, Nursery Lamps in Spontaneous Order (c) teamLab - The orchids from Floating Flower Garden whose flowers have fallen come to this space and are nurtured surrounded by lamps. Each lamp glows to its own rhythm. Over time, nearby lamps and Tea and Sake in Spontaneous Order cause a spontaneous order phenomenon, and they influence each other.

teamLab, Reversible Rotation in the Black Emptiness (c) teamLab - In Black Emptiness, because it is empty, infinite possibilities open up where anything can enter it. When you sit down, Spatial Calligraphy is drawn in front of you. The Spatial Calligraphy in this artwork space rotates in the same direction, but because of the characteristics of Ultrasubjective Space, visually, the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation are equivalent. Hence, the work can appear to be rotating in either direction depending on how the viewer chooses to see it.

teamLab, Reversible Rotation in the Black Emptiness (c) teamLab - In Black Emptiness, because it is empty, infinite possibilities open up where anything can enter it. When you sit down, Spatial Calligraphy is drawn in front of you. The Spatial Calligraphy in this artwork space rotates in the same direction, but because of the characteristics of Ultrasubjective Space, visually, the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation are equivalent. Hence, the work can appear to be rotating in either direction depending on how the viewer chooses to see it.

teamLab, Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices (c) teamLab - Vortices are created behind people as they climb against the flow. Although a vortex is steady, it is constantly moving and swelling like a powerful life-form.

teamLab, Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices (c) teamLab - Vortices are created behind people as they climb against the flow. Although a vortex is steady, it is constantly moving and swelling like a powerful life-form.

teamLab, Autonomous Abstraction (c) teamLab - The dots of light blink and change color in cycles unique to each dot. A spontaneous order phenomenon occurs between dots that are close to each other, and their hues and the rhythm at which they blink gradually synchronize.

teamLab, Autonomous Abstraction (c) teamLab - The dots of light blink and change color in cycles unique to each dot. A spontaneous order phenomenon occurs between dots that are close to each other, and their hues and the rhythm at which they blink gradually synchronize.

teamLab, A Musical Wall where Little People Live (c) teamLab - This is a musical wall where little people live. When stamps of various shapes such as mushrooms, sheep barns, or long sticks of ice are attached to the wall, these objects appear in the world of the little people. The little people notice these and start jumping onto them.

teamLab, A Musical Wall where Little People Live (c) teamLab - This is a musical wall where little people live. When stamps of various shapes such as mushrooms, sheep barns, or long sticks of ice are attached to the wall, these objects appear in the world of the little people. The little people notice these and start jumping onto them.

teamLab, A Table where Little People Live (c) teamLab - This is a table where little people live. If you put something, such as your hand, on top of the table, the little people will jump on to it. Depending on the shape of the objects you place on the table, the little people will slide, jump, or climb.

teamLab, A Table where Little People Live (c) teamLab - This is a table where little people live. If you put something, such as your hand, on top of the table, the little people will jump on to it. Depending on the shape of the objects you place on the table, the little people will slide, jump, or climb.

teamLab, Sketch Umwelt World (c) teamLab - Color in an airplane, dolphin, hawk, or butterfly on the paper provided and see the picture you have drawn appear three-dimensionally, flying through the world. If you touch them, they speed up or fly away. You can control the plane, dolphin, hawk, or butterfly with your smartphone and see the world from their perspectives on the screen.

teamLab, Sketch Umwelt World (c) teamLab - Color in an airplane, dolphin, hawk, or butterfly on the paper provided and see the picture you have drawn appear three-dimensionally, flying through the world. If you touch them, they speed up or fly away. You can control the plane, dolphin, hawk, or butterfly with your smartphone and see the world from their perspectives on the screen.

teamLab, Flutter of Butterflies from the Caterpillar House (c) teamLab - Caterpillars born from the Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House, emerge and transform into butterflies which gather into groups. When people touch the butterflies, they scatter and die.

teamLab, Flutter of Butterflies from the Caterpillar House (c) teamLab - Caterpillars born from the Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House, emerge and transform into butterflies which gather into groups. When people touch the butterflies, they scatter and die.

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