Cancer Survivor to Fly Solo Round the World for Charity

When Norman Surplus from Ireland was diagnosed with bowel cancer five years ago, he didn't know if he would survive. Now having fully recovered, he's hoping to inspire other cancer patients and raise money for cancer charities by flying around the world in an autogyro aircraft.

According to the BBC, not only will the daring pilot be traveling over 43,000 km and stopping off at 25 countries on the way, if he's successful, the 47-year-old will become the first person ever to have circumnavigated the globe in an old-fashioned gyroplane.

First flown in 1923, the lightweight aircraft was used during the Second World War for intelligence gathering. Now 87 years later, the single-engined, open cockpit machine (similar in shape to a helicopter) will be used to break a world record, thanks to Norman, who has spent two years planning the epic journey.

"Before I got cancer I had never done anything like this," he told the Belfast Telegraph, adding: "When I was recovering after surgery and chemotherapy at the Belfast Cancer Centre, I saw this program about someone restoring an autogyro and I had the idea for this expedition — I thought that would be quite a change of scene."

Waving goodbye to his wife and two children, the brave adventurer will depart from a local playing field in Larne, Northern Ireland in the next few weeks and hopes to be home to his wife and children in July. It just goes to show that one man on a mission really can make a difference.

Good luck Pilot Norman!

Photo by Lightningboy2000 via Flickr.