NBC Chicago Viewers Donate Nearly 8 Million Make-A-Wish Miles

Approximately 700 kids dealing with illnesses will be helped this year

More than eight million frequent flier miles were donated Thursday in a "mile-a-thon" event hosted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and NBC Chicago.

Throughout the event, viewers and Make-A-Wish supporters donated 8,008,464 miles. Those miles will, in turn, be used to help dreams come true for kids who want to travel.

NBC Chicago viewers were encouraged to donate their miles for airlines that support the cause, including US Airways, Delta United and American. Miles were donated through Make-A-Wish Illinois and collected in person, by a telephone bank or at NBCChicago.com.

More than 700 kids currently dealing with severe medical conditions will be helped in Illinois this year by Make-A-Wish Illinois. The number of children who could use a donation and have a wish involving travel is near 70 percent.

In 2012, approximately seven million frequent flier miles were donated to the partnered cause by NBC Chicago and Make-A-Wish Foundation during a 13-hour event, and a total of 6, 710,452 miles were raised during that time.

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