Help 14-year-old who holds chess tournament for medical research

Chess blog for news and trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

In this 2006 photo, Benjamin Morrison holds his

sister, Nina, who passed away that year. Nina had a

Fanconi Anemia, a rare disease, and Benjamin has

organised a chess tournament this Saturday, Jan. 15, at Corbett High School to raise funds to fight the disease.

Hi Everybody,

We found this heartwarming story of a kid who holds an annual chess tournament and donates the funds raised for medical research.

Benjamin Morrison, 14, a freshman at Corbett High School, remembers his sister, Nina, as “very, very, very cheerful.

“She liked making friends with new people — just a very likable person,” he says.

Unfortunately, not enough people got the chance to know the delightful 3-and-a-half year old because she suffered from Fanconi Anemia, a rare genetic disease that can cause bone marrow failure and is linked to several cancers. Nina died of a brain tumor in December 2006 without having seen her fourth birthday.

For the second year in a row, Benjamin has organized a chess tournament in his sister’s memory to raise funds for the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, based in Eugene. Last year’s tournament raised about $500, he says.

The tournament will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at Corbett High School, 35800 E. Columbia River Highway, and is open to any chess player in grades kindergarten through 12th. A suggested donation of $10 is requested per player.

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