CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A local pilot is embarking on an extraordinary journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Peter Teahen of Cedar Rapids, along with his friend and fellow pilot Ed Galkin from New Jersey, is flying an 8,800-mile trip in a single-engine Cessna airplane. Both men are members of the Rotary Club, and their mission is to support the club's efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.

"We both agree as grandparents it’s time to bring and end to this," Teahen said. "We can’t let our grandchildren, great-grandchildren ever have to face this for again."

The flight will take them from New Jersey to Newfoundland, then to Iceland, and finally to Europe. Along the way, they will be making speeches and raising money to vaccinate children against polio.

At age 89, Galkin is also making history on

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