Texas man and pickleball athlete, Chong Kim is on a mission to use pickleball as a tool to travel to 50 states of the United States of America to help people in one thing only – to develop mental health. He embarked on this wonderful cause due to a personal tragedy that changed his life forever.
Kim lost a dear friend during a pickleball league due to mental health, he decided to take this plunge of mental health awareness for those people, who considers pickleball as everything in their life.
The 52-year-old, who carries the short name 'CK', used his love for the game and his cause to use it such a positive way, so that each and every player before leaving the court forms a good connection and checks on each other for the well-being of the mind.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Chong Kim (@ckinc1)
“This is pickleball. This is what pickleball really is. It’s not about how good you are or what level you’re playing at. It’s about the community,” Kim told KFYR in an interaction.
Till now, Kim has travelled a total of 32 states of USA and plans to end his journey this month on November 12 in his home state of Texas. He moved to USA from South Korea, when he was 5 years of age and is married to Cara Hoevet.
He also happens to be a big football fanatic and is the owner and painter of CK Painting Inc., which paints college and university dorm rooms across USA.
“I can go play with a 12-year-old, or I can go play with a 72-year-old, and I have just as much fun. This sport is here to stay. I can tell you that for sure, I’ve seen the growth. Like I said. I go randomly to any city in the United States, and I can find a pickleball court,” said Kim.