I am honored to be one of the participants of Jet Drag Day at the world headquarters of Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, where I will be pulling an airplane — most likely a Boeing 757-200 aircraft — along with other members of a team along the tarmac outside of the Technical Operations Center on the morning of Friday, May 1, 2015; and proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“Almost all of us have been touched by cancer in some way, so we’ve decided to make a difference by raising money and walking in our local American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.” That statement — found on the official Internet web site of the team, which is called the Global Hashtags — could not be more true for me, as I lost both of my parents to cancer within a few months of each other. I traveled on airplanes operated by Delta Air Lines to be by their bedsides, holding their hands as they passed away before my eyes. I cannot even begin to express how much it meant to me for them to know I was there — they were both perfectly lucid when I arrived — and to have said everything I needed to say to them for them to hear one last time.
I miss my mom and dad.
Anyway, when Ed Pizzarello of Pizza in Motion asked if I would be on the team, I did not hesitate to accept the invitation. Additionally, he has posted this generous fundraising pledge: “I’ll match any individual donations people make up to a total match of $250.”
I am proud to be part of the team; and what a team it is — the members of which comprise of me and the following 19 esteemed colleagues of mine:
- Scott Mayerowitz, Associated Press
- Jeanne Hoffman, Le Chic Geek
- René de Lambert, Delta Points
- Frequent Miler
- Angelina Aucello, Just Another Points Traveler
- Matthew Klint, Live And Let’s Fly
- Melinda Danielsen, Magic Of Miles
- Michael W, Michael W Travels
- Marshall Jackson, MJ On Travel
- Ben Schlappig, One Mile At A Time
- Points, Miles & Martinis
- Stefan Krasowski, Rapid Travel Chai
- Trevor Mountcastle, Tagging Miles
- Jamie Larounis, The Forward Cabin
- Ed Pizzarello, Pizza in Motion
- Tommy Danielsen
- Scott Mackenzie, Travel Codex
- Seth Miller, Wandering Aramean
- Kathy Kass, Will Run For Miles
Here is an interesting tidbit of information: Steven Klamon — with whom I was proud to co-organize both of the Delta Air Lines FlyerTalk Events in both 2009 and 2010 at the world headquarters of Delta Air Lines — will be participating in this same event; but as a member of a different team. His team is also raising funds for the American Cancer Society; but on behalf of a 14-year-old boy named Parker Eckburg, who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. The cousin of Parker — who is a also a member of that team — created this weblog…
…and, of course, there will be many employees of Delta Air Lines whom I know personally who will be on other teams as well. It should be a fun event, as I have never participated in pulling an airplane before — so this will be new for me.
Greater than 1,500 people on greater than 80 teams will be participating in this event. To get an idea of what this event is like, here is a video of the Jet Drag from 2014 — whose participants raised $170,000.00 — courtesy of Delta Air Lines:
https://youtu.be/Qj19TXuVyTw
It is sadly too late for my parents; but your donation could save the live of someone who has cancer. Please consider donating for this event — click here for details.
Thank you in advance.
Image courtesy of Delta Air Lines.
