Hong Kong banker chases basketball Guinness world record dream
Larry Chan gave up his desk job to become a personal trainer, and now he's part of a team hoping to make 30,000 layups in 12 hours
After working in a bank for 18 years, Larry Chan Cheuk-lun called it quits in December. What followed surprised many around him.
The well-built Chan became a personal trainer. However, since then he has been busier training himself for a sporting event aimed at breaking a world record this Sunday. If he's successful, it will be the third world record in two years by Guinness guru Brian Cha Chi-kin.
This time, Cha's 100-plus-strong team will attempt 30,000 basketball layups within 12 hours in Southorn Playground in Wan Chai. He has set a goal of 2,000 for himself. The technique involves laying the ball up near the basket and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket.
Proceeds from the world record bid will be donated to a private hospital so it can extend services for children with special needs.
To Chan, the transformation from banker to intended world-record breaker is almost a call from the heart, after he took part in Cha's last event in cycling.
"The teamwork spirit means a lot to me. I found a great passion in athletics," said Chan. "With passion, one can lead a life with not only monetary but also spiritual gains."