Slice of Life with Chris Parsons
Chris Parsons is Chairman, India Practice and Mental Wellbeing Champion at Herbert Smith Freehills. Chris marked 30 years at the firm by walking 30 marathons across India in 30 days to raise money for Indian widows through the Loomba Foundation. In 2020, he cycled 4,100kms over 41 days, raising $320,000 for the same Foundation.
Here, Chris joins us to talk about his own incredible experiences, and the undeniably positive impact that helping others can have on our wellbeing.
You've pushed yourself to the limits of human endurance to raise money for the widows and children of India: what first drove you to get involved with the Loomba Foundation?
My first introduction to the Loomba Foundation was one of those lovely quirks of fate. It was in 2011 and I had been involved with India for about five years at that stage as Chair of my law firm's India practice. I had already decided to undertake another fundraising adventure by cycling from London to Gibraltar, but this time I wanted to raise money for a cause in India (my previous cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats had raised money for an international children's charity).
I was cycling with three friends and we had sorted the route and done the planning, but I had not yet decided on a charity. Then, as chance would have it, I attended a lunch in London for a visiting business delegation from India and I was seated next to a man called Raj Loomba (not yet a Lord!) and he listened to my story with increasing interest and a twinkle in his eye. "If you cycle to Gibraltar for the Loomba Foundation I will meet you there".
He told me all about the work of supporting widows and their children in India through the Loomba Foundation, and I was keen help. And he was true to his word: he and his wife, Veena, met me in Gibraltar and arranged for some British army bag-pipers to march me up the high street!
How do you keep those all-important motivation levels high when taking on such gruelling challenges?
There are three things that really help me to maintain my motivation and energy levels during these challenges, both in the training and during the event. Firstly, having been pretty fortunate during my life, it felt only right that I should do something for others. Secondly, as a recovering alcoholic, I tend to do things to excess. And thirdly, having grown up with little or no affirmation from my father, I still crave the need to be noticed, and in undertaking strenuous feats I receive the affirmation I still miss.
Do you believe that helping others can have a positive impact on our own sense of wellbeing?
There is a considerable amount of research to support the notion that in helping others we are also helping ourselves. It is a core of the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step programme that in order to stay well and sober you need to help others. I also have a strong Christian faith and believe that we were designed to help and support others.
How different do you think your own life would be if you'd never taken that first step into fundraising?
I have seen parts of India that even most Indians have never seen, and at "ground level" – with my 30 marathons from Mumbai to Bangalore in 30 days in 2015, and in cycling from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 40 days last year, just before lockdown. The hospitality I found everywhere was wonderful. It has also meant that I have an even deeper connection with India – a place that has become my second home over the last 16 years.
What advice would you give to people who've never taken part in fundraising or volunteering before, and don't know where to start?
My advice would be to have an initial thought, an initial plan – one that excites you – and then start working towards it. You don't need to have it all worked out: things happen and appear along the way. I spoke to as many people as possible once I decided what I was going to do – including to Ian Botham's daughter who manages all of his charity fundraising initiatives. She said if you are going to do something mad like 30 marathons in 30 days, you will need a physio; otherwise, you will fail. Apollo Hospitals was happy to lend me one of their best physios, and he repaired my body so that each morning I was as good as the first morning!
Find out more about the inspirational work of the Loomba Foundation.