#13 'the currency of kindness' Richard Moore Founder of Children in Crossfire

Hear how an incident on the way home from school on May 4 1972 changed Richards life forever. Richard Moore, then aged 10, was shot by a British Soldier. Luckily he survived, however, the rubber bullet did untold damage to his eyes and meant that he lost his sight completely. This was during the troubles in Northern Ireland where there was a huge divide between nationalists (catholic’s) and unionists (Protestants). Richards family had recently lost a family member to the violence and Richards blinding left the family further rocked. Incredibly many years later he met the very soldier who shot him that fateful day and while his Dad was not alive both Richard and his mother were willing to forgive the individual. Richard has never let blindness hold him back though and after a time at University he had a successful business career which included running and owning two pubs as well as nights spent playing guitar in a band. In 1996 Richard started his own charity. Children in Crossfire focused on compassion right from the start. Richard and his team based the entire ethos of the organisation on compassion. Although compassion with a plan which Richard refers to as crucial. It offers to support, educate and care for children living in poverty (poverty referred to as the conflict). Its Ambassador list includes the Dalai Lama of Tibet as well as tv star and activist Joanna Lumley. The charity uses donations from individuals as the Irish and British Governments to help children in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi as well locally. It continues to thrive to his day.