United Airlines encouraging customers to donate miles to Make-A-Wish

(CNN)– United Airlines is asking its customers to help sick kids travel the friendly skies.

The airline is encouraging its milage-plus members to donate air miles to Make-A-Wish America which fulfills wishes for children battling critical illnesses.

The organization says more than 70% of wishes require some form of travel.

As a result, United Airlines says it will match the first 2.5 million miles donated this month through its fundraising program ‘Miles on a Mission’.

The carrier appears close to meeting that match.

United says more than 2.3 million miles have been donated so far in December.

Make-A-Wish says it needs almost three billion airline miles each year in order to fulfill wishes that require travel.