11 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hongkonger with muscular dystrophy revels in ‘dream come true' visit to Cathay City
He said that helping organise the activity also gave him a sense of achievement.
'It's been a successful trip. I've always wanted to organise special outings to take my friends with me so that we're exposed to more things,' he said.
Tsz-kin has not let his health hold him back from organising the visit, including planning what to see, how to get there and inviting his friends, who are also wheelchair users.
The 16-year-old was diagnosed with the incurable condition at 1½ years old, telling the Post in an earlier interview in May that doctors had informed him that those with the condition lived on average to just 18. His story touched readers, some of whom reached out to voice encouragement or support.
Hong Kong teenager Chen Tsz-kin, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was unfazed by the threat of stormy weather on Sunday as he embarked on a much-awaited visit to two aviation companies with his friends.
But Tsz-kin's mother, Michelle Li, could not help but be anxious about the trip.
'I was very nervous before today because there's so much organisation to do and we've not done this before, but often my son would calm me down and said 'things will work out',' she said.
In the May interview, Tsz-kin said one of his dreams was to visit Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways' headquarters on Lantau Island, known as Cathay City.
The company, which hosted the visit, also helped open the doors to the engineering and maintenance firm Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, or Haeco, near the airport.
Tsz-kin set out from his home at 8am on Sunday, when a No 1 typhoon warning was in force amid rainy and windy weather.
He and his friends first visited training facilities for cabin crew, including simulated 'flight cabins' used to help staff prepare for all aspects of the job, from serving food to putting out fires.
They also got an up-close look at mock planes used for evacuation drills, as well as facilities used for training ground staff.
Chen Tsz-kin (right) invited some of his friends along for the visit. Photo: Dickson Lee
The group then moved on to Haeco, where they were within touching distance of aircraft under maintenance in the hangars just off the runways of Hong Kong International Airport.
Tsz-kin said he was most excited to see the 'Queen of the Sky' – a nickname for Boeing 747 aircraft – and he learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes work that helped to ensure the safety of flights.
His friend, 16-year old Alex Cho, was one of the most excited participants.
The lover of all things aviation showed his deep interest and knowledge as he interacted with staff members, saying he was overjoyed when he learned he was going on the visit.
'It was very impressive to be able to get under an aircraft, to be so close. I have not done anything like this before,' Cho said. 'I've been fascinated by flights since I was four or five years old.'
Marc Fancy, head of community engagement at Cathay Pacific, said a special visit route had been planned for the group because wheelchairs were involved, and that the company had offered to host the visit after reading about Tsz-kin's story.
'We're in a situation where we can make that happen, so it was a no-brainer for us to jump on the phone, reach out and invite Tsz-kin and his friends to spend half a day with us,' Fancy said.
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