Jimmy Burnand and his Island to Island 2,500 mile challenge

Event dates: Wednesday 1st September 2021 – Thursday 30th September 2021

Jimmy was born in born in Canvey Island in 1969 and went on to be one of the funniest, most boisterous kids in his school. But behind his bravado, Jimmy hid a crippling shyness that stayed with him all his life.

As he grew older, Jimmy inventing different personalities to hide his insecurities and lack of confidence: Jimmy the funny man, Jimmy the hard man and Jimmy the ladies’ man.

Jimmy’s funny man personality ensured he was always the popular one, the one all the girls gravitated to, and all boys followed. Jimmy always protected those who could not defend themselves, looking out for the most vulnerable kids in school and making them part of his cool gang.
Jimmy was known for his BMX’s, motorbikes, cool clothes and sharp haircuts. He created a mask around himself in order to survive the turmoil he felt inside. In his late teens, Jimmy struggled with alcohol/drug addiction and had an impeccable ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jimmy suffered throughout his life with mental health, but it was only later in life when his family and friends noticed that his highs were way too high, and his lows were way too low.
At the age of 38, Jimmy was diagnosed with PTSD and Bipolar disorder, which is a mental health condition that acts as an emotional amplifier. The high and low phases of bipolar disorder are often so extreme that they interfere with everyday life. When your mood is high, you feel far quicker, funnier, smarter and livelier than anyone else around you, but when your mood is low you can have overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, which can lead to thoughts of suicide.

The Tenerife Mob

As he grew older, a series of accidents coupled with some bad decisions led Jimmy on a path of self-destruction, a path where he followed instead of led. When he was 30 Jim moved to Tenerife where he was known as “Jimdog”, (purely because he was never without his dog by his side.). He was known for his generosity, often helping people when he was no better off himself. He would give you his last Euro if he thought it would help.

Unfortunately, even today there are many misconceptions about what bipolar means which can be very upsetting for anyone living with or caring for someone with bipolar particularly when people use language that is dismissive, offensive or hurtful.
We believe if the stigma of mental health had not existed in the mid 80's Jimmy could have been helped at the beginning of his journey instead of the end. It’s like he was born with a fighter’s instinct, and for the most part, he used that instinct to fight for other's and in particular the underdog.

Jimmy believed he had no more to offer this world, but he was so very wrong, the world lost a good, kind and generous man. That is why the Jimmy Burnad island to island 2,500 mile challenge is so important to us his family and friends.

Working with the Change Foundation, we hope to raise £5,000 to help people like Jimmy who have wandered onto the wrong path to find a new path paved with self-confidence and achievement. We want to help lift the stigma of mental health and provide mentoring and coaching to help people with a long-term conditions be more successful.