As many recall, Fauntleroy resident William Khazaal organized a Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser on World MS Day May 25. He helped round up 69 restaurants and small businesses, over 20 in West Seattle and White Center, to donate a percentage of their take that day. Those funds go toward the purchase of copies of The MS Children's Book which he created and will be sent to three charities, the National MS Society, National Pediatric MS Center, and the CCSVI Alliance ( “Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency") to distribute to both children and adults to better understand the often puzzling disease.

The book has just begun printing this week and is now available. And while the participating restaurants are still sending in their May 25 donations, Khazaal said he has sold nearly 1,600 books through his website www.mschildrensbook.com. Those who would like to support the cause can purchase the book online and gift it to camps for children with MS, to the UW Medical Center, Children's Hospital, and Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York.

Khazaal, 36, was diagnosed with MS five weeks before his well-known and beloved father, Hussein died. Hussein, an Alaska Junction resident, owned the Phoenecia Restaurant on Alki he ran with his wife, Inaam and their three children, Sonya, Nadia, and William. Hussein passed away suddenly in August, 2009, and, after a lot of consideration, the family reopened the restaurant about a half year later.

"I am so busy with school I haven't been able to stop by the restaurant that often lately," said Khazaal, a student at UW majoring in entrepreneurship and marketing. He woud like to open a new restaurant soon. The restaurant seems to be very busy, too."