I want to create a legacy that gives back. My boys weren't able to meet their grandfather, Pete, but they will learn about him and everything he did to give back to the community. They'll also know that their dad is doing what he can to make the world a better place, even if it's just a small gesture. This organization is something that they'll be able to continue on with as well, until this terrible disease is cured.
THE FOUNDER
Matt Dimmer founded The Extra Mile during a personal experience he shared with his late father. Just after relocating to LA, his dad (living in Michigan) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer stage 4. Matt began traveling back and forth to see him, at least once a month. This went on for seven months, and during this time, there was plenty of time spent alone on airplanes reflecting on life.
One Sunday after returning home from a weekend with his dad, he and his wife were sitting in their backyard when he had an idea. Did anything out there exist that allowed frequent flyer miles to be donated to those less fortunate who may be in a similar situation? Without the same means, was everyone able to have the intimate conversations that he was having with his father? Would they, at best, only be able to afford to attend the funeral from out of town?
After posting the idea on his social networks, the support came pouring in. It didn’t exist, and there were clearly others that had experienced what he was going through. It was then that he knew he needed to fill that void. Matt was able to show his dad the early beginnings of the organization on one of his last trips home and legally added his father’s initials to the name of the non-profit. Currently, The Extra Mile seeks to collect unused frequent flyer miles, as well as monetary donations, either of which is then donated to people in need of traveling to visit loved ones terminally ill with cancer.
Matt is the co-founder of Troup, a branding & design agency and currently lives in Chicago with his wife and twin boys. He runs this organization by himself as a passion project, but hopes to partner with volunteers and corporate partners in the future.
“I needed to be here to see my dad, and to be with my family.
I’m not sure what I would have done without you Matt. Thank you.”
JJ Rolle. We're proud to meet, get to know, and connect him with his terminally ill father through donated air miles and funding. It's a feeling we cannot describe other than joyous. 2 years of hard work and we are on our way to connect people at the time they need it most. READ MORE HERE
We received a note from Kyle Marlett via Twitter that his dad was stricken with stage 4 cancer, and had 24 hours left to live. His brother needed to get from Austin to Las Vegas to be with him before he passed, so we made it happen. Their dad passed the next day.
Camron Cozzi was a 15-year-old teenager and a sophomore in high school in Washington state when we found out about him and his dream.
He had a sparkle in his eyes and a smile that would melt your heart. He grew up playing football but now his biggest passion is lacrosse and he plays year round, and has recently been coaching and inspiring young athletes.
Camron Cozzi (right), diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, was invited to be an Honorary Coach for the Brady’s Bunch Lacrosse team at the Best of West tournament.
Sounds like a regular teenage lacrosse player right?
He's actually a teenager battling cancer. On December 22, 2015, Camron was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer that is inoperable and incurable. His world and his families was turned upside down on that horrible day when they received his diagnosis.
Camron was invited to be an Honorary Coach of the Brady’s Bunch Lacrosse team at the 2016 Best of West tournament in Las Vegas, February 26-28. This is a very special honor for a lacrosse player.
And we were honored to be able to fly his entire family including him, to the tournament and help fulfill his dream.
We reconnected this strong willed woman (who had beat Hodgkin's and then suffered from pancreatic, lung and liver cancer) with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. By bringing her son in from Ireland, to Boston, we helped everyone with the closure they needed.
Tim Meeks reached out to let us know that he lost his brother to cancer, however his sister was unable to make it to say goodbye before he passed. We stepped in and made sure she could get closure and be with her family at this tough time, and attend his funeral.
Please note that as we are completely donation based, and we're only able to help people when we have sufficient donations.
To donate air miles, please email Matt below with the airline where you're miles exist.
Spread the word of what we're trying to do, and follow us on social media to see our latest progress and connections we're making.
