'Bob Geldof, Bobby Charlton & King Charles were supporters': Bedfordshire man set for MBE
Chris Long was behind the biggest charity sporting event the world's ever seen
Last updated 31st Dec 2022
A Bedfordshire man responsible for the biggest mass charity sporting event the world has ever seen is set to receive an MBE, after making the New Year Honours list.
Chris Long is founder and director of Earthdive and Chair of Putteridge Swimming Club - but is known most of all for setting up Sport Aid 36 years ago.
Chris coordinated a run consisting of 20 million people taking part in 200 cities across 89 countries - raising over $35 million to support victims of famine in Sudan and Ethiopia.
'It was trying to take that constituency of compassion that Geldof set up (with Live Aid) and try and take it to the next level.'
'Rather than just sit and watch a concert of stars and give a bit of money to charity for being entertained... I thought why don't people put on their running shoes and take that message to the doorstep of the UN?', Chris said.
'Bobby (Charlton) actually took me to the World Cup draw in 1986 in Mexico City and I got to meet him first - he helped support Sport Aid.'
'We were alongside Seb Coe and Carl Lewis and Maradonna, Frank Bruno - those athletes and sports people came together to help support it.'
He says it's quite the coincidence that King Charles will award him his MBE, four decades after being a primary supporter of Sport Aid.
'The very first person that started me off on my journey from the UK to the UN when we lit the torch for Sport Aid in 86' was, then, Prince Charles.'
'It seems kind of poignant in a way that this is his first New Year Honours list and I'm in it', Chris added.