Support for Mikelis as he recovers

Mikelis Libietis is a Latvian tennis player currently touring on the ATP Challenger Tour and the ITF pro circuit.  We hosted him during the Charlottesville Men's Pro Challenger at Boar's Head last week.  In the second set of the doubles finals - when Mikelis and his partner were up 7-6, 4-1 - Mikelis ruptured his Achilles tendon.  If you were there, you know it was difficult to watch.  

Not only did Mikelis have to forfeit the match (and the likely first place prize money), he faces a challenging year ahead.  His livelihood is compromised since he will be unable to play in tournaments for most of 2018, and his physical therapy will be extensive as he recovers from surgery.   Like so many of these guys, he's a young man pursuing his dream.  

Let's show him the caring side of Charlottesville by helping him during his recovery.
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The folks at GoFundMe have asked me to provide a little more detail, in the interest of transparency.  Here it is:  My name is Ellen Hayes.  I live in Charlottesville, Virginia.  My family and I hosted Mikelis when he was in Charlottesville in October 2017 to play in the ATP Challenger tennis tournament at our local tennis club.  He stayed in our home, and we enjoyed getting to know him and watching him play.  He suffered an injury during the finals of the tournament and as a consequence will be unable to play competitive tennis for most of 2018.  The funds raised from this site will be used to support him financially as he undergoes rehabilitation to get back to competitive form.  I will withdraw the money on his behalf for his use when he gets back to the US.  I have spoken with Mikelis several times over the last couple of months, and he supports this plan and is so thankful for the support shown to him from across the world.