Richard Paff, John Baker and Jack Davis traveled all the way from California to visit Landrum and Columbus this week, but they could only stay for about an hour.
The three men made quick stops at O.P. Earle Gym in Landrum and Stearns Gym in Columbus as part of a whirlwind, record-breaking 48-state tour in nine days. They are shooting a basket in each of the states to raise funds for a roof over an outdoor basketball court in San Juan la Laguna, a remote village in Guatemala.
The stops here allowed them to record a basket in South Carolina and North Carolina before quickly moving on to for hoops later the same day in Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland. They started the day with a hoop early in the morning in Georgia.
While visiting here, they had time to briefly visit and share their purpose with a large group of students at O.P. Earle.
Paff has been traveling to the village in Guatemala with a Christian service team to help out with projects and curriculum development at New Dawn Christian School. He recently came up with the idea to tour the country in record-breaking style to raise funds, and his friends agreed to join him.
The roof will cost an estimated $27,000. If you are interested in helping, donations can go directly to Children of Lake Atitlan, the U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aids New Dawn Christian School. For more information visit www.childrenoflakeatitlan.com.
After O.P. Earle, the three men proceeded to Stearns to record an official North Carolina shot in front of the Polk County Recreation Department staff.
While here the men were accompanied by local residents Sandy and John Bollinger, who arranged their stops here. Sandy is Paffs sister-in-law.
The three men shared their 48stater tour T-shirts with the Bollingers and received a box of Side Street Pizza to go as they headed on to the next stop.
To follow their journey you can read their blog at 48state.wordpress.com.