Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

This year, Steve Jennings from the Intellectual Property Office (UK), together with Ken Hughes and Lanthao Benedikt both from the Office for National Statistics (UK), organise a Table Tennis Tournament to raise money for MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders).

The whole idea began to take shape last October while some of us were discussing about London hosting the Olympic Games this year. We thought that it would be a great idea to bring a little Olympic spirit into the office, to celebrate sportsmanship as a medium to spread the message of unity and peace in the World. MSF appears as the perfect choice to convey such message!

In November 2011, we started to advertise the idea and looked for participants to compete in the tournament. We are delighted that our initiative has been very well received so far: forty-eight colleagues from both ONS and IPO have signed up to participate in what promises to be a very exciting event. Also, a big thanks to the ONS Diversity Expatriate Group that helps pay for the balls, the bats and the trophy.

The competition is taking place between January and March 2012 at lunch time in the Sport Facilities next to Starbucks. The format is similar to the World Cup, with an Elimination Stage followed by the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final. Results will be published on the ONS.Daily and the IPO.Circle. There will be a trophy for the winner!!!

We are now looking for sponsorship to support our fundraising. So, if you would like to donate to MSF, there are many different ways. Collection tins can be found in Starbucks and in the shop on the ground floor. Sponsorship forms can be requested by sending email to Lan.Benedikt@ons.gsi.gov.uk, or simply via this JustGiving page.

Thank you so much for your interest and support in our cause, and hope to see you soon at the tournament. We need cheerleaders!