Chris Elgar and Dave McElroy are taking World Autism Day (April 2) to new heights.

The duo is flying around the world in 80 days to raise $250,000 for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, which is a world-renowned leader in autism research.

It’s also a cause near and dear to McElroy’s heart. His two grandchildren, Wylie and Finn, have Asperger’s syndrome.

Elgar, who lives in Aldershot, will transport the Piper Comanche PA 24 he lovingly rebuilt over four years from its hangar at Burlington Airpark to Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport on May 12 where the pair will embark on their round-the-world adventure.

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Their first stop will be Scotland, McElroy’s newly-adopted home for the past 12 years. There, they will announce a second fundraising goal of $250,000 for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Over the next 80 days they will land and take off in 60 other airports in 25 countries over six continents logging 78,000 kilometres.

Taking a page out of the Jules Verne adventure novel, Around the World in 80 Days, the deadline to complete their mission is July 31.

When they do return, Elgar and McElroy will be among an elite group of Canadians who’ve flown around the globe. Just four have managed the feat so far, according to Earthrounders, which keeps records of those who have flown around the world in light aircraft.

“Nervous? No, we’re really looking forward to it,” said a confident Elgar.

On top of mapping the journey, soliciting funding to cover all costs — so that 100 per cent of every donation goes to their two charities of choice — he and is co-pilot have already overcome the most difficult hurdles, which were mostly bureaucratic. For instance, a permit was required by Transport Canada because the Comanche was over its gross weight allowance by 20 per cent. That’s because the two back seats in the four-seat aircraft were pulled out to accommodate an extra fuel tank. That permit was just approved last week, eight months after it was filed.