My running feat is best feeling in the world
Paul lost 12 stone A MAN who could not walk up the stairs without losing his breath has completed his first half marathon after shedding 12 stone.
Paul Moore was trolled and abused online because of his weight after a photo of him at a music festival in 2013 went viral.
The 28-year-old, originally from Togher in Cork, and now living in Sydney, Australia, became the subject of vicious taunts which lead to him selfharming and turning to alcohol.
Paul saw his weight spiral to 23st 1lb.
After he broke his ankle when he was drunk one night and it needed surgery, he said, “I had no choice but
to go home to Ireland.” On his return he told his parents about his self-harming and he began working at a hotel in Cork where he joined a Slimming World group.
Paul said: “I would encourage more men to go.
“The first meeting is scary but then you just realise everyone is there for the same reason and there’s no judgment.”
He has turned his life around and now weighs 11st 12lbs.
Paul is about to qualify as a personal trainer and said after he shared his story about losing weight, he was inundated with people asking for advice.
And in the early hours of yesterday he completed his first half marathon. Paul said: “Life is absolutely crazy, three years ago I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath and I’ve just ran 21.7 kilometres, literally the best feeling in the world.”
He did it in 2hrs 2 min and raised €1,275 for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Paul said he did the run “in memory of my friend Kristian Crowley who died in Melbourne last year”.
He added: “The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust were really good to the family.” Teaching children about the importance of staying healthy is another subject close to his heart. Paul said: “I’ll be fully qualified as a personal trainer in five weeks.
“I now work in childcare centres around Sydney giving fitness classes to kids and telling the families and the kids why it’s so important to get into fitness at a young age.”
“I also have 10 clients [adults] that I train.
“I never thought my life would be this different all because I asked for help and now I can’t get enough of life and if anyone needs any advice or someone to talk to regarding health and fitness, they can message me on my Instagram @paulmoore35.
“When I think about it, it is crazy how so much has changed for me and I just want to give back to charities and causes close to my heart.”
Time it took Paul Moore to complete half marathon in Sydney