Friday, February 10, 2012

Update on the Mongolian circus girl:

I have some wonderful news, and some bad news. First, the good news!

Urangoo, the little Mongolian girl who wants to be a circus act, is getting an amazing shot at her dream. She is coming to the US to perform, I kid you not, contortion, in Washington D.C., and Arlington, Virginia. Santis Productions has funded her visit, and will be screening the documentary they produced about the Mongolian mining industry, the very industry that unwittingly played a part in the death of Urangoo's father. Urangoo will be performing at the screening: 2/29 at the Arlington Artisphere, and 3/2 at the Kennedy Center.

So, that's the good news. Now the bad news.

Urangoo's mother is sick. Oyunbadam has been in and out of the hospital, and doesn't have enough money to pay doctors to diagnose what, unfortunately, may be a brain tumor.

Many of you have asked how you can help. For that, a giant thank you. Now you can. Santis Productions, the filmmaker, will be receiving donations on behalf of Urangoo and her mother. No, Santis is not a charity, so you're not going to get a tax break. Like you, Santis is taking a risk and doing the family a favor. If that prevents you from donating, I understand, but I'm sorry to hear it anyway. However, if you're willing to risk $10 or even $50, you can send cash or a check to:

Santis Productions LLC
124 Madison Place
Alexandria, VA 22314
(Be sure to write "For Oyunbadam" in the memo on the check)

You know, I also wanted to get some certainty about what Urangoo and her mother needed in order to get by, so I asked them to provide me with a budget. Along with line items for food, clothing, and fuel for a cold winter, there were two costs that they were very concerned about: an MRI, and pencils.

Wrap your head around that, readers. The family is in dire need of an MRI. And pencils, for school. Can we dig into our pockets, and offer this girl and her mom the chance I know most of us have ourselves?