Good Samaritan Chess News Twice Over: Helping Renown Institute for Cancer, Oxford Heart Centre

Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hello everyone, 

There are several chess-inspired good Samaritans out there and it's always quite gratifying to feature these stories. Here are two more such chess lovers - in different parts of the world - doing their bit to make the world a better place.

A chess event organised by Carl Portman from Banbury Chess Club will take place at 2 pm on Sunday in Hanwell Village Hall. Grandmaster Daniel King will be playing up to 20 players at once. Carl Portman is organising the event to raise funds for the Oxford Heart Centre.

Dr. James Cohen, medical administrator for Renown Institute for Cancer, thanks Kevin Chung for his $1,000 donation. / Provided by Renown Regional Medical Center

What would you do if you won $1,000? Would you go on a shopping spree, plan a vacation? How about give it away? That’s what 16-year-old Kevin Chung did. The junior from Reed High School in Sparks recently took first place in the D/under section at the local Larry Evans Memorial chess tournament in March.

He then donated his prize money to the Renown Institute for Cancer and was on-site on Tuesday to present the funds in person.

“I think that everyone should donate something to help people in need, whether it is the homeless or those with cancer,” Chung said. “It is important to give to people if you can afford it.”

Chung started out playing chess with friends but quickly moved on to more professional play as he gained experience. He enjoys the challenging and competitive aspects of chess and has plans to play in upcoming tournaments.

The teen said he enjoyed the rewarding feeling that came from making a difference in someone’s life and felt good about his contribution.

“I was just trying to do the right thing,” he said. “I didn’t expect to get any recognition for what I did.”

Chung said he will not stop with this display of generosity. He hopes to continue to contribute any winnings he might receive in the future to those who are in need of help.

“I don’t need the money, so why not give it to a good cause?” he said.

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Chess Fan Finishes 24-hour Fundraiser for Cardiac Unit in Banbury, UK

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Here's an inspiring story from the United Kingdom and it does not come from the London Chess Classic! The Banbury Guardian reports about a nice effort to raise money for the Cardiac Physiology Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Banbury Chess Club member Carl Portman played for a full 24 hours during the Hearts and Minds Chessathon, taking on several opponents including Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry, who made the first move on Saturday morning. The event was organised at the Banbury’s Castle Quay shopping centre at the weekend.

Mr Portman is a patient of the hospital’s cardiac ICD team himself and has an implantable cardioverter device – a combination of a pacemaker and defibrillator – which may have saved his life several times.

He said: “I want to give something back to say thank you for all the support so far. I came through the 24 hours pretty well considering that I’m supposed to get a good night’s sleep with the heart condition I have.

“I had the idea of Hearts and Minds because when people have problems with their hearts it can incapacitate them physically for days, months and sometimes even for life.

“I wanted people to be aware that they can keep their brains active and that using chess – one of the greatest mind games ever – will be of great benefit.”

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