Chris Moon MBE was blow up by a landmine. A former soldier, he has also escaped from being held hostage and is an extreme marathon runner.
Chris is one of the luckiest people you’re likely to meet, as he should be dead. He’s cheated death many times over!
As a result, his exploits feature in a Discovery Channel documentary with the cheerful title ‘I Shouldn’t Be Alive!’
Chris Moon’s extraordinary life story is one of consistently overcoming incredible odds.
Kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge:
Working for a charity clearing land mines in Cambodia, Chris Moon, along with his team, were kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge and taken into the jungle. He survived three days and three nights of the ordeal in captivity before his patience and calmness prevailed.
Moon is one of the few westerners ever to survive being captured by the notorious Khmer Rouge. Not only did he negotiate himself out of his execution but that also of his two colleagues. Furthermore, he led his group out of the jungle through the night across rivers and landmine ridden ground.
Blown Up and Marathons:
While clearing mines in Mozambique in 1995, Chris Moon was blown up while walking through a ‘cleared’ area and lost both his lower right leg and right arm. However, not only did he survive this ordeal when many thought he would not but through sheer determination and an insurmountable will to succeed, Chis competed in the London Marathon less than one-year following his accident.
Not one to be content, he has since competed in many marathons. In April ’97, Chris was the first leg amputee to complete the 250km Great Sahara Run – ‘the toughest footrace on earth’. Competitors run for six days in the Sahra heat. They carry their food, equipment and have to be self-sufficient for the week.
Furthermore, in 1998 he carried the Olympic torch into the stadium in the Nagano Winter Olympics.
Other marathons and challenges include:
- July 1997 – Running 200 km in four days with the Australian Army to assist mine victims.
- Sept 1998 – Completed the Outback Challenge through some of the toughest outback and mountains in Australia raising funds to support mine action programmes.
- May 1999 – Ran the length of Cambodia helping to change attitudes towards the disabled, raising funds and supporting requests for the Cambodian government to ratify the Ottawa Treaty.
- July 1999 – Chris was the first amputee to complete the Badwater Death Valley Ultra-Marathon. One hundred thirty-six miles (5 marathons back to back).
- April 2000 – Chris jointly led a party climbing Kilimanjaro on a new north route.
- May 2000 – He completed the 100km Kumamoto Volcano Run in Japan.
- July 2000 – One of only 12 people in the world to complete the Death Valley 300, from the lowest point of the USA continuously on foot to the highest point and back again in just over six days. Chris repeated the run in 2001 to test false legs.
Background:
Born in Wiltshire, Chris Moon studied Agriculture at Seale Hayne College. Believing in service, he worked as a volunteer at a homeless shelter before joining the Army. On leaving the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Military Police and also served with several infantry units.
After leaving the hospital from his landmine injuries, Chris completed a Masters Degree in Security Management.
In 1996, he was awarded an MBE for services to the HALO Trust for mine clearing.
In March 1999 he was also the recipient of the Snowdon Award for outstanding work for the benefit of disabled people.
Furthermore, Moon has been awarded honorary degrees by the Universities of Plymouth, Leicester and Exeter.
Chris Moon – Motivational Speaker – One Step Beyond:
Chris is one of the U.K.’s leading motivational speakers.
As a professional speaker, Chris helps people do what they do better. He pulls on his unique experiences to illustrate principles people can use in their daily lives.
As well as a practical understanding of human performance in the most extreme situations and overcoming adversity, his Master’s Degree covered human behaviour and management theory.
He delivers bespoke motivational presentations on subjects such as:
- Motivation
- Change Management
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Risk and Safety
- Communication
Chris Moon – Health & Safety Speaker:
It is now generally accepted that most well-run businesses are aiming for a 100% health and safety record.
The moral responsibility of keeping staff safe at work, reputation issues and the considerable cost of a shutdown are now much more apparent.
Chris examines and discusses individual and group behaviours and also how to think beyond company procedures.
Speaking topics include:
- Personal experience of high-risk environments.
- How and why things can go wrong.
- Research on Risk and Human Behaviour.
- Psychological perspectives.
- Shared experience from many of the organisations he’s worked within.
- The power of personality and presence to help create change.
“Thank you for the time and effort at our Health & Safety Event. We’ve received excellent feedback about your speech. It’s left our team with plenty of food for thought.”
Skanska U.K.
The experience, enthusiasm and profound nature of his presentations are as relevant to board members, as well as sales staff and management teams.
Furthermore, all of Chris’ presentations are bespoke to each client.
Chris Moon’s presentations will leave your audience inspired, uplifted and ready to go the extra mile.
