Guan Shengmao, a retired 51-year-old oil field worker, struck out on his bike last Sunday for a ride that will take him from his hometown of Panjing in Liaoning Province to Shanghai to extend his gratitude to doctors at Shanghai Changhai Hospital who saved his life 20 years ago.

Guan should arrive in Dalian, Liaoning Province, today and then continue his ride through the provinces of Shandong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu before arriving in Shanghai. The entire trip is expected to take about 20 days.

"I choose to go to Shanghai by bike because I want to prove that I'm very healthy after the heart operation," said Guan.

Guan first encountered heart problems when he was only 10 years old. Twenty years later, his problems relapsed.

Doctors from his hometown said his heart valves had serious problems and suggested he undergo an operation in Shanghai, said Guan. So he, his wife, and their young son made their way to the city.

"The examination before the operation said the condition of my heart was awful," said Guan. "At that time, my family was against the operation, fearing that I would never come back from the operating room, but I insisted."

The operation gave Guan a new life.

"Guan received artificial heart valves, which was an advanced technique at that time," said Xu Zhiyun, a heart surgeon at Changhai Hospital.

He was back at work within six months and soon joined a cycling club in his hometown.

"I found myself as healthy as every other person," said Guan. "In 2005, I reached Chengde (Hebei Province) by bike, which was 500 kilometers away from Panjing."

Meanwhile, Changhai Hospital kept in touch with Guan by mail once a year, tracking his condition.

When Guan received a letter from the hospital at the end of last year, the idea of riding to Shanghai suddenly occurred to him.

"I can say thanks to the doctors who did the operation at that time, and encourage patients who have the same disease I had," said Guan.

Mu Guifen, Guan's 51-year-old wife, supports her husband's plan, but insisted on riding along with him.

"I don't feel at ease if he goes alone - Shanghai is too far away after all," said Mu. "And I'm the only one in the family who can be with him, as our children have to go to work."

Before he started his journey, Dr Ji Guangyu from Changhai Hospital went to Panjing to give him an overall examination and found he was in a good condition.

(Shanghai Daily September 19, 2006)