Jumping the Cliff To Simply Be: Reggio Calabria to Monte Carlo
One’s man’s remarkable journey of self-discovery that spanned a whole continent before finally finding himself in the beauty of the Italian coast. If you have ever dreamed of chasing your goals, but held back, this book is for you. The simple gift of a smile being Paul’s simple but effective tool for making friends of the people he met as strangers on the road, from the very first day.
Paul Burgum has walked across England, Scotland, France & Monaco before departing for Italy just before New Year 2013. His aim to walk un-aided across the length of Italy from Reggio Calabria to Monte Carlo, a journey of over a 1000 miles. As usual Paul set the rules for the walk of undertaking the challenge not speaking the language, without support crew or funds of any note & not even having planned his route, other than the start & finish.
Following a nervous breakdown 5 years ago, Paul coined the phrase jumping the cliff, which meant throwing himself into situations that scared him, aiming to conquer his anxiety disorder and also his battles with depression. Paul’s writing shows what can be achieved regardless of mental health issues and how on occasion we can use them to our advantage.
Paul writes with complete honesty during the walk as he details his slow relapse into the hands of alcohol, a long-time nemesis. If the journey was not tough enough Paul also had to battle gaining a serious chest infection during his first few days, being the victim of credit card fraud, leaving him penniless & walking during some of the worst rain Italy had seen for a generation.
The walk itself also raised funds for the Jo & Mya Memorial Fund, named in memory of the family of Paul’s good friend Ian Richardson. The charity aims to support children & families of people who have been suddenly & unexpectedly bereaved.
Paul is a long time dreamer who believes that anything is possible if you believe in yourself!!
This book is available on Amazon in the Kindle Store
Jumping The Cliff And Hoping to be Caught
The story of Paul Burgum’s epic trek across France and home to the North East of England without money or support. Relying on only human kindness and his own mental fitness to walk over 1200 miles .
A long time sufferer from depression and battles with alcohol amongst many problems, Paul Burgum is the Managing Director of BCT Aspire CIC a social enterprise based on Teesside in the North East of England. With the simple aim of raising the aspirations of Children and Young People.
Having covered the whole of UK in the same fashion, trying to rebuild his life after a nervous breakdown, hopefully the book can give hope to sufferers of Mental Health Issues. Paul often coins the phrase “Jumping the Cliff” his approach to throwing himself into challenges regardless of how scared or anxious he may be feeling.
Whether you are looking to take on the greatest of challenges or simply to walk to the shops on your own, maybe this book can help you to fulfil your dreams.
A life long dreamer who believes anything is possible through hard work and self-honesty. The book details Paul’s 6 week trek from the shores of Monaco all the way across France to Le Harve then onwards back to his home town of Billingham. Starting in Monaco and quickly descending into the mountains of the Alps. The book describes his daily battle with his own demons and some of his strategies for overcoming our own fears. A long term sufferer with anxiety problems this is Paul’s own way of taking on his own fears, head first.
This book is available on Amazon in the Kindle Store
Jumping the Cliff & Hoping to Fly
My own story of my walk from Portsmouth to Teesside after suffering a breakdown and battling alcohol. This walk was about conquering my own demons and hoping to find new way’s to live not just a good life, but a great one. Alongside my companion Meg my 9 year old Patterdale Terrier who had months before been horrifically attacked by another dog, it was our own journey of recovery.
This book is available on Amazon in the Kindle Store
