Hotchkiss’ Moon to share views on Ukraine, Special Olympics
Keith Moon, center left in photo, with Slovakian, American and Ukrainian athletes and local officials in Slovakia in August. Photo submitted

Hotchkiss’ Moon to share views on Ukraine, Special Olympics

SALISBURY — Keith Moon, long time teacher and coach at The Hotchkiss School, will be giving a talk on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Noble Horizons on Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the war in Ukraine and the Special Olympics.

Moon has been traveling to Russia and Ukraine regularly since 1983, when Ukraine was still one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union. Having been to Russia 20 times over the last 40 years, Moon remarked in an interview Wednesday, Aug. 31,  that it has been incredible to witness the changes to both countries over the years.

“The history is complex. The two countries have, at many times in their history, been the same country,” Moon said.

He  also said Putin’s invasion was telegraphed for many years. The Russian leader gave a speech back in 2003 outlining the current war.

Moon also plans to talk about another major interest of his: the Special Olympics. A longtime board member for Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT), Moon hosts annual “swim-a-thons” to raise money for the organization. He has raised more than $200,000 over the course of the last 27 years.

These two topics came together with Moon’s recent trip to Slovakia: He recently returned from a two-week trip where he gave a gift from SOCT to refugee families from Ukraine.

The money will be used to create the Dream Day Care Center in Slovakia.

While there, Moon hosted an overnight youth camp for refugee family children with intellectual disabilities ages 4 to 11 to participate in gymnastics and swimming events.

“I think this is a big step in how these families can start to move forward,” Moon said.

Families from Slovakia, Ukraine, America and Romania participated.

With nearly 7 million Ukrainians displaced due to the war, Moon will be using his unique perspective as a versed traveler and Special Olympics coordinator in his Sept. 24 talk.

To register for the in-person event, sign up at www.noblehorizons.com.

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