War, Love, Hope (Published Autumn 2025)
Synopsis
“In the rubble of war, love and hope often bloom where you least expect
them.”
The faces of war flash by on screens—familiar, yet distant. The photos of
hollowed-out cities, the headlines of lives undone, the scrolling images of
children caught in violence—they numb more than they move. For many,
war is just another story, another time, another world. But what if you
could step inside? Feel the grit of the dust, hear the cries in the dark, and
understand the threads of hope that tie humanity together even in its
bleakest hours?
War, Love, Hope opens a door to the raw reality of conflict zones, pulling
you from the safety of distance into a decade-long journey at the heart of
humanity’s suffering and resilience. Christoph von Toggenburg,
humanitarian, photographer, and storyteller, brings you face-to-face with
the darkest prisons of Africa, the shadowed jungles of Colombia, and the
frontline chaos of war zones that have defined our era. These aren’t just
places—they’re battlegrounds for survival, redemption, and the pursuit of
understanding what it means to be human.
The book captures life where death hovers close. You’ll follow Christoph
into the heat of hostage negotiations, witness the colossal challenges of
organizing relief efforts in unimaginable conditions, and stand alongside
those who refuse to surrender to despair. You’ll meet the broken and the
brave, hear the quiet whispers of hope amidst ruins, and see the fragile
beauty of life in places meant to erase it.
With firsthand accounts of war’s horrors and triumphs, Christoph’s writing
transcends headlines and statistics through vivid snapshots: the
suffocating silence of an isolation cell, the gunfire echoing through rebel
territory, the relief of a village where life begins to rebuild. Each chapter is
a testament to resilience, and each story reminds us that, beneath the
divisions of flags and borders, the human spirit remains unbreakable.
War, Love, Hope isn’t just a book about conflict; it’s a guide for navigating
life’s chaos. Through Christoph’s struggles with PTSD and recovery, his
lessons learned in the crucible of crisis, and his unflinching belief in the
power of compassion, the book offers readers a roadmap for finding joy
and purpose, even in darkness.
In the end, War, Love, Hope isn’t about war itself—it’s about the humanity
that endures in its wake. It’s a reflection on resilience, the small but
powerful acts of kindness that persist even in the harshest conditions, and
the shared connections that bind us together. It reminds us that even in
the face of great adversity, there is always a way forward, one step at a
time.
This is a story of survival. A story of redemption. A story of hope. A story
of love.
Bike for Help - A Humanitarian Adventure (Book)
AN INSPIRING STORY THAT WILL IGNITE THE HUMAN(ITARIAN) IN YOU.
In 2002, Christoph von Toggenburg set out to raise awareness about a disease that had been forgotten by many. It was a time when the world was in shock by the global impact of 9/11 and the rising political and military conflicts. Many people had cautioned Christoph against his upcoming expedition, knowing the risks. Still, nothing could stop him from capturing the world's attention on leprosy and helping those suffering from its devastating impact.
A unique account of his epic adventure, Bike for Help takes us along Christoph's transcontinental quest. Cycling solo from India to Switzerland to raise funds and awareness for people affected by this terrible disease, Christoph faced obstacles he never envisioned and survived incidents he was sure should have claimed his life.
Several months and 10’000 kilometres later, Christoph's mission had come to fruition, and here, his journey is retold, inspiring the human(itarian) within each of us.
Available in print or Ebook (ISBN-13: 979-8847530002)
For orders on Amazon.de, please order here
For orders on Amazon.com, please order here
Download One-Pager here
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Bike for Help (German Version)
My Expedition for Leprosy Sufferers - A Humanitarian Adventure
On the first of January 2001, 25 year old Christoph von Toggenburg started off to a unique adventure: Starting in New Delhi, he cycled alone to Switzerland in order to collect donations for leprosy patients. During five months he covered 9300 kilometers, of which 4000 km of desert, crossed through two continents, fought his way through deserts, sand-storms, and excruciating heat.
He saw some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth as well as incredible misery; he faced mortal fears and moments of incredible happiness.
For him it was one of the greatest adventures to be experienced today: to show that also one single person can help.
Bike for Help tells not only a story about a humanitarian adventure but also provides an unusual insight in foreign countries, the tragic disease leprosy, exotic cultures, touching encounters as well as the thoughts and feelings of this young adventurer.
Published by Herbig Langen Müller, Germany