By Victoria Pera
Herald Intern
A local family in Sanford hosted a 15-hour pickleball tournament to raise funds for a mission trip they are planning to an orphanage in Guatemala in March of 2025.
Cary Hays and his three children played pickleball at Groveview Park from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 27, in hopes of raising funds for different projects in the orphanage.
Hays said throughout the 40 games played, over 100 people came and played throughout the day. Because this tournament was at a local park, some of the players were friends and others were strangers that wanted to play some pickleball.
Hays mentioned that the family raised close to $1,300 throughout the day.
The tournament also included special giveaways courtesy of Amazing Adventure Hunts for anyone who donated or beat the Hays family on the court.
Hays said the funds that were raised will go to help Child Beyond International in Guatemala, a partner of Resurrection Church in Sanford and a member of Central Florida Cross Network.
Child Beyond International Inc. is an orphanage and mission trip Christian nonprofit serving children and families in Guatemala.
Hays said he first got involved with Child Beyond International because of his church and pastor.
“Our pastor was part of a podcast with the director of the organization. So, the founder of this organization was talking to our pastor and long story short, our pastor wanted to be involved with it, and I said I would help do the leadership for this mission team. So, that’s where it all started,” said Hays.
Hays and his wife were inspired to take a trip out to Guatemala because the last time they went in Oct., they saw the different work that needed to be done.
“Back in October, my wife Renee and I were invited to go on this leader's vision trip. It was basically a trip to kind of assess on, in person, the opportunities there. That was like a five- or six-day trip where we got to see all their different projects and facilities that they are working on,” said Hays.
For the upcoming trip, Hays said the group will be working to build houses and new stoves for the orphanage, along with other projects to assist with medical and sports.
“We’re going to build a couple of houses down there and we’re going to be building some stoves, because one of the issues down there is that people cook on these really unreliable and almost unsafe stoves. They do it indoors, and there is a major problem with pulmonary disease because of the smoke that comes out so we’re going to be building these stoves that can vent to the outside,” said Hays.
This fundraiser was only one of the many Hays is planning in the next coming months. There is one coming up that could be fun for the whole family!
Hays owns a company called Amazing Adventure Hunts, where they plan downtown Sanford extreme scavenger hunts. He said his company is holding a fundraising scavenger hunt to raise money for the upcoming mission trip. The hunt will take place on Jan.25 at 4:00 p.m. To book this hunt, you can visit https://www.amazingadventurehunts.com/.
Hays said the overall goal needed to be raised is over $30,000. This covers the cost of all members of the group to get over to Guatemala and bring all necessary supplies to help with food, shelter, and projects.
Hays said whether you can donate $500 or $5, every little bit helps. Anyone that would like to donate can do so at https://www.facebook.com/donate/1319354275918954/.
Hays also talked about why he feels called to do this type of work for the orphanage.
“For me personally, I do love serving people that are very vulnerable. And I mean these people, these kids, are some of the most helpless and vulnerable people in the world, and giving them assistance or a helping hand, is what I believe we are called to do,” said Hays.
Hays said that he hopes through this mission, even though it's thousands of miles away, that it can inspire and push more people in their church and community to do this work as well.
