GAM Holiday Campaign 2020: Grieving, but so Grateful

This story comes from the Give a Mile Flight Follow-up Team and perfectly embodies the reason we work to collect unused loyalty points and funding.

We are in month #2 of the Give a Mile 2020 Holiday Giving Campaign and our feature story is about a young woman named Kim, who battled cancer for over six years in Calgary, AB. Kim created a ‘bucket list’ of items during her journey, and gradually crossed things off. Her wishes ranged from camping with entire family (check, check.. did that twice!), to one of the last remaining items: having her beloved Grandma with her as she moved to palliative hospice near end of life.

Kim’s grandmother was aware of the desire for the visit, but she was on fixed income and over 3,500 miles away in Quebec. The family learned of Give a Mile, made the application for a flight of compassion allowing Kim’s grandmother, mother Colette, and Kim (in photo) to travel together from home for her final three days in hospice. And as Kim had wished, Grandma was at the bedside, along with Kim’s mom, and other family she loved, when she left this world. Her family was grieving, but grateful that the end was just as Kim wanted.

We are mid-way through Give a Mile’s 2020 Holiday Giving Campaign, and still aiming to meet the Campaign goal of 25 flights awarded before New Year’s Day. This is a more modest goal than other Campaigns with fewer people traveling due to COVID-19 protocols, while economic impacts are increasing. We are happy to work with title sponsor, Cask Global Canning Solutions, to help meet Give A Mile’s Canadian campaign goal of $25,000, 2 million travel miles donated and 25 Flight Heroes. Our recent American charitable status allows a U.S. Christmas Campaign goal of $5,000 raised, 250K travel miles donated, and 5 Flight Heroes.

Holiday gifts, especially of your unused loyalty points (Aeroplan, Starwood, Marriott and Amex Rewards, etc.), and monetary offerings are easily done through the Give A Mile website DONATE NOW page. Fully 100% of funds and points are applied to flights of compassion and related taxes/fees for specific flight stories, or in the general pool to be applied against any flight.

Find out more about the 2020 Holiday Giving Campaign. Help more loved ones share holiday moments and create lasting memories through your generous giving. And follow Give A Mile on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see year ‘round events and celebrations.