[Seattle Go Center] New Years Simuls (MSF)

Dear Go Players,

This Thursday, January First, I will be playing simuls at the Seattle Go Center starting at 1:00 PM.  This year I will be playing for donations on behalf of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders.)  MSF is in the front line in the fight against Ebola but their hard work doesn't just stop there.  MSF can be found throughout the world working to build much needed healthcare infrastructure and fighting epidemics. You can find out more about MSF at: www.msf.org

I will also be matching the first $10 dollars donated for each game played.  I will limit the number of games to 9 in each session and welcome all players, no matter their strength.  Also, those that record there game can email it to me and I will give a brief email review of the game.

A personal note about the Ebola outbreak:  Sally, my fiancé, worked in Liberia at the Elwa hospital.  This is the same hospital that Dr. Kent Brantley, Nancy Writebol, and Dr. Rick Sacra were working at when they were infected with the virus.  In fact, she worked alongside Dr. Rick Sacra and he was one of her references when she applied for her current job at Peacehealth here in Bellingham.  You can find out more information about the missionary/medical work these three individuals do at: www.sim.org  For more information about the Ebola outbreak on their website I would direct you to: http://www.sim.org/ebola

While Nance Writebol and Dr. Brantley were on the front line fighting Ebola, Dr. Rick Sacra's story is a little more nuanced.  Dr. Sacra was back in the United States when Nance Writebol and Dr. Brantley were infected with Ebola.  In spite of this, Dr. Sacra chose to return to Liberia and help with obstetric patients at Elwa hospital where he also contracted the disease.  These three and their families are worthy of your praise.

I hope to see you on Thursday, but if this is not the case I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!