| The parish walk! ... It sounds like the sort of thing one | | | | (Crossroads for Carers IOM [ |
| does for a few hours before having a cream tea in | | | | Moon said, "This is probably the toughest event I have |
| the village hall; but nothing could be further from the | | | | ever completed. What makes it a special challenge is |
| truth. It is a brutal eighty-five mile unforgiving road route | | | | that events of a similar distance, allow another five to |
| around every parish of the Isle of Man, with many hills, | | | | 10 hours before cut off and competitors can run. I |
| which has to be completed in less than twenty four | | | | trained hard to increase my walking speed and |
| hours. Competitors are not allowed to run. | | | | stamina and would like to thank my prosthetist David |
| At 8.00 am on Saturday June 21st 2008 nearly fifteen | | | | Morrison from Glasgow for solving a technical problem |
| hundred walkers set out on their longest day. Twenty | | | | at short notice. After 30 miles my stump continually |
| four hours later, 121 successfully completed the race | | | | swells and he created room for expansion. Thanks to |
| defying torrential rain and high winds. Chris Moon | | | | my support crew who fed and watered me - I couldn't |
| finished in a time of twenty-three hours twenty-one | | | | have done it without you! It's a tremendous testament |
| minutes and twenty-nine seconds and was awarded | | | | to the character of the Isle of Man that they have this |
| the Manx Telecom Parish Walk Outstanding | | | | incredible challenge; thanks to the marshals and |
| Achievement Cup. | | | | supporters who worked so hard and encouraged all |
| Chris Moon a former army officer lost his lower right | | | | the walkers." |
| arm and leg in 1995 whilst clearing landmines in Africa | | | | Chris Moon is a superb motivational speaker and much |
| for a charity. He's one of the few westerners to | | | | in demand for conferences, offering inspiration |
| survive kidnap by Khmer Rouge guerrillas, been a | | | | presentations to team building and corporate events. |
| speaker and trainer for eleven years and a veteran of | | | | His general topics include: teamwork, overcoming |
| many of the world's toughest ultra marathons, raising | | | | adversity, goal setting, performance, health and safety, |
| funds for charities helping the disabled. He set up a | | | | positive thinking, making the best of everything, |
| small company MTB (Making The Best - his philosophy | | | | diversity and leadership. |
| in life) which solves problems in the fields of human | | | | On the subject of diversity Chris has worked with |
| resources and security management. He is a | | | | large organisations speaking, presenting and facilitating |
| well-known speaker on the subjects of change | | | | on diversity issues. |
| management, motivation, leadership and the concept | | | | With Health and Safety and Security, Chris has |
| of limitation. His widely acclaimed autobiography 'One | | | | experience of working in high risk environments and a |
| Step Beyond' was published by Macmillan in 1999. He is | | | | Masters in Security Management. He's presented to |
| involved with St Loyes (President), Disability Sport | | | | large utility and oil companies on the mindsets around |
| England (President), Honorary President of | | | | health and safety and security and makes what is |
| Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private | | | | sometimes thought to be a dry subject uplifting, |
| Practice (OCPPP), The British Limbless Ex-Service | | | | humorous and relevant |
| Men's Association, Motivation, Concern, Association to | | | | UBS conference organiser, Julia Brewer, had this |
| Aid Refugees, The Red Cross and is patron of | | | | feedback on Chris' recent presentations: "Chris went |
| COCO and Children's Chance. He is an ambassador | | | | down a storm - they loved him! Apparently he enjoyed |
| for the Prince's Trust. | | | | himself too - the audiences were large 750 on the first |
| He first heard of the Parish Walk in 2000 when he | | | | day and 630 on the second and he had them in the |
| spoke at the opening of the new airport at a charity | | | | palm of his hand throughout. Client told me that he was |
| event for the Red Cross. Daunted by the time cut off | | | | the highlight of the conference and made up for all the |
| he vowed to return one day and successfully | | | | tedious other presentations that the audience had to |
| complete the Parish Walk to support an IOM charity | | | | endure.....so very positive response". |