This is a SURPRISE* fundraiser for new French foil instructor Tim Nelson of Seattle's Salle St. George.

Tim is moving to Los Angeles to be close to his girlfriend and his dream is to start a fencing school there, teaching French foil in the Martinez tradition. 

The money will be used for equipment and other startup neccessities to help him get the school going, such as:

* Masks

* Foils

* Jackets

* Space rental

* Insurance

The plan is to keep this  SECRET* until his going-away party on March 18th, and send him off with some marks on his jacket and a little startup cash in his pocket.

Thanks for helping keep true historical fencing tradition alive and bringing this timeless martial art of skill, grace and composure to a new area. You'll be giving a gift not just to Tim, but to all the fencers he teaches in the years to come. 

*SHHH - I tried pitching the idea of crowd-funding to Tim but he didn't seem to think there would be much interest and I gather he doesn't like asking for charity. Too bad I'm not asking for his permission!  If you post this to FaceBook etc., please hide Tim from seeing it on the post security settings and we'll see if we can keep it under wraps and surprise him with it  :)