Dear Travelers Aid:

I want to communicate a bit of extraordinary help I received from Keith Wilkinson, one of your Volunteers. On November 30, 2002, my father and I dropped off my sister at Virgin Atlantic Airways in Terminal 2. My sister had come to see my father, who is 85, has had a stroke, and has dementia. My father was not able to walk the long way to the parking terminal. I was very afraid to leave him because of the dementia and because I am not that familiar with your airport. Also, he had just sustained a fall on the down escalator.

Mr. Keith Wilkinson observed our dilemma and offered to stay with my father while I went to get the car. In the process of returning to the terminal, I got lost and had to circle back a second time. Thus, I was gone for about 45 minutes and, as you can imagine, I was frantic.

When I got back to the site, I saw Mr. Wilkinson talking with my father, both of them seated outside of the terminal. I felt tremendous gratitude for someone who had provided help in such a critical way. I do not know what would have happened had Mr. Wilkinson not offered his help. His kindness was the difference between the airport trip being a disaster and somewhat of a success. When I tried to pay him, he refused. I was dumbfounded.

Thank you so much for providing your services, which were very much needed and deeply appreciated. In my opinion, Keith Wilkinson deserves recognition for the service he provided to me and my father and for being such an exemplary representative of your organization.

Thank you.

E. Kiszely

Irvine, California