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Jordan Axani, 28, and his former girlfriend booked the
three-week trip in May, including stops in Italy, France, India
and Thailand. But the pair broke up, leaving Axani with plane
tickets booked in her name.
Wary of the hassle of changing names on tickets booked with
several airlines, Axani put out a call on social media website
Reddit in November for someone with the same name as his
ex-girlfriend and a valid Canadian passport.
After worldwide media attention, Axani received thousands of
responses, including from Nova Scotia student Elizabeth "Quinn"
Gallagher, 23. Axani picked Gallagher, a homeless shelter
volunteer, after talking with her on the phone and becoming
impressed with her social conscience.
"It's totally platonic," Axani said from New York where the trip
starts on Sunday. "Do I think we'll become friends? Sure."
Other responses were more odd. Axani said he heard from hundreds
of people, male and female, who offered to legally change their
names.
Axani has turned the attention into a charity called A Ticket
Forward that aims to fund trips for underprivileged people.
What does the original Elizabeth Gallagher think of all this?
Axani said she has been in touch but he declined further
comment.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by James
Dalgleish)
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