About I Ran the World by Chris Long:
A remarkable and inspiring memoir by the man who founded and organised the largest mass participation demonstration the world has even seen.
Inspired by Bob Geldof and Live Aid, Chris Long organised his own game-changing event 34 years ago, before the internet, mobile phones and social media. Sport Aid and Run the World involved Heads of State, Policymakers, Royalty, Celebrities, Sports Stars and 19.8 million people in 89 countries who demanded action for the famine victims of Ethiopia and Sudan.
Chris not only raised £32 million for charity but also succeeded in pressurising governments into cancelling US$100 million of African debt.
This racy autobiography reveals the true story behind that turbulent time. How he imitated Bob Geldof to ensure Birmingham’s Olympic bid team got on board, convinced the head of UNICEF to partner Band Aid, met Prince Charles and Princess Diana at Buckingham Palace and took tea with Margaret Thatcher at Number Ten Downing Street – not to mention how close he came to committing suicide along the way.
Chris agonised over writing his book for three decades: laying bare the exultation, high notes and happiness behind his superhuman achievement; tempered with the blood, sweat, tears, depression and despair when it all came tumbling down.
This book challenges today’s young people to take up his baton. It sets out an incredible blueprint for a new Sport Aid – for a digital world.
“We live in dangerous times,” he says. “And never more so than during this pandemic. Finding a remedy is a matter of survival and that solution lies with all of us. You can effect the world you live in. That’s why I wrote my book.”
I Ran the World is a passionate, at times funny and often insightful look at how one man and a group of like-minded people truly made a difference to the world in which they lived.
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Author Bio:
Chris Long was born in Malta in 1954 to British parents. He lived in England throughout his childhood and moved to Greece in 1980 to follow his dream. He returned 4 years later broke and broken.
Licking his wounds, he watched the 1984 BBC News report on the famine in Africa and thought – I can help. Penniless but driven, he founded and organised the world’s largest mass participation sporting event – Sport Aid and Run the World – raising $35m for Band Aid and UNICEF. His event mobilised 19.8 million people in 89 countries who ran 10k through their cities all at the same time. The protest delivered a petition of blistered feet to the doorstep of the United Nations and forced governments to cancel more than $100 million of foreign debt to Africa.
Chris continued fund raising and raised over $50 million for 20 international and national charities, met Prince Charles and Princess Diana at Buckingham Palace, Princess Anne and took tea with Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street. He was honoured by UNICEF in 1988.
In later years he has pioneered citizen science in the cause of ocean conservation.
An ordinary guy with an extraordinary story.