Three years ago, 18-year-old Huang Ke, sitting in a refitted autocycle and his 48 year-old father, who was driving, kicked off their 10,000 kilometer-tour, visiting dozens of cities throughout China. Now, the duo has 600 km left in their trek.

Huang Ke and his father. [Xinhua]

But, he did not intend to admire the scenery of China's gracious mountains and rivers.

He wanted to pay tribute to kindhearted people throughout China who had given him a helping hand and encouraged him to combat his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal disease which will eventually lead to heart failure due to muscular paralysis, according to a Xinhua report.

Huang and his father's journey has covered dozens of cities and a distance of 13,000 kilometers, the report says, adding that Huang had expressed his gratitude to more than 30 people face to face.

Huang's backbone has twisted into an S-shape and he is not capable of sleeping on his back, the report says.

Huang's family has received five hundred batches of various sums valued at 80,000 yuan (US$10,000) and numerous telephone calls and letters, according to the report.

"They helped me but I don't know what they look like and have never expressed my gratitude to them. I am not able to express why I should do so. I just have strong feelings that drive me to express my gratitude to them," the 21-year-old Hunan native says. Doctors warned that he would likely not live past 18.

"It is very tough for him and our hearts hurt," Huang's 73-year-old grandmother Peng Jianzhen says.

"But we have no choice but to support his decision. He says his last wish is to visit those who helped him, " says Peng.

The gratitude tour is not an easy task for Huang and his father.

Sitting on a wheelchair fixed onto the autocycle, Huang has to be roped in to prevent him from falling, the report says.

Every two hours, the Hunan native, who endures both cold and humid weather, asks his father to stop so that they can rest.

Huang Ke and his father. [Xinhua]

Huang's father disassembles the window in front of the cycle and the shield warding off the rain to help his son admire the views.

Huang admits he may not be able to thank every individual who has helped him personally. "What I can do is to say thank you in my heart," he says, adding that he will donate his corneas after he passes away.

Huang's trip touches those he knows, but also those he doesn't.

When they embarked on their national tour in 2003, people swarmed the road, bringing water, convenient noodles and daily materials for the traveling pair.

Their unloaded tricycle was damaged when they traveled from Changhai to Yueyang. Locals gave them a new one.

As they made their way on a highway after flooding ruined the streets in May, 2005, staff members at the toll station provided them food and drink and helped them to find a vehicle that could accommodate their cycle. At last a police car accompanied them for one hour on the 37-kilometer highway.

Huang's next destination is Heilongjiang Province.

In 2003 when Huang and his father watched the flag-hoisting ceremony at Tiananmen Square, Huang made up his mind to tour nationwide to thank those who had helped him, according to the report.


To contact the writer of this story:
Guo Qiang in Beijing at guoqiang@chinadaily.com.cn