- “Hardest Geezer” Russ Cook completes 16,000 km Africa run
- British runner finishes 350-day journey from South Africa to Tunisia
- Cook raises £568,000 for charities despite challenges like robbery
Russ Cook, who over 350 days covered more than 16,000 kilometres while running from the point of South Africa to Tunisia under the moniker “Hardest Geezer” on social media, has completed the journey.
A British individual has commenced his final day of the arduous challenge to run the length of Africa in Tunisia.
Running for over 350 days, Russ Cook, who self-identifies as “Hardest Geezer” on social media, has accumulated the equivalent of 385 marathons.
The Worthing, West Sussex, 26-year-old is currently completing the last 40 kilometres of the 16,000-kilometer challenge with the support of hundreds of people.
One more day, one last push to complete this,” he told shortly after departing, as sports correspondent Rob Harris attempted to follow suit.
Mr Cook disclosed that although he had shed “few tears” this morning, he had since recovered.
“My fiancée, 352 days on the road is a considerable amount of time without seeing family. “My body is in excruciating pain, but I have only one day left, so I will not complain.”
He claims that if he succeeds, he will become the first individual to run the entire length of Africa.
In April 2023, he commenced his expedition at Cape Agulhas, South Africa, which is the southernmost point on the African continent.
Mr Cook has recently witnessed an increase in contributions to the two charities he has been supporting while travelling.
Over £217,000 of his total fundraising of £568,000 has been acquired in the past week.
The Running Charity, which supports the mental health of homeless or young people with complex requirements, and Sandblast, which educates the public about Sahrawi culture, are the organisations for which he is raising funds.
His voyage, however, has not always been smooth.
He and his group were stolen at gunpoint in Angola. Phones, cameras, and passports were pilfered from them.
Subsequently, in August, Mr. Cook disappeared. Days passed while he was separated from his supporters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo jungle.
Eventually, they succeeded in obtaining his release by bribing villagers armed with machetes.
Furthermore, he utilised social media in January to obtain a visa in order to travel from Mauritania to Algeria.
“Unlock your financial potential with free Webull shares in the UK.”
At the time, he stated that his ordeal could have been concluded without the visa because “no other way” remained to reach the northernmost tip of Africa.
“It is all hanging in the balance, to be honest,” he indicated.
The Algerian Embassy announced, following an extensive social media campaign, that it would grant him a “on the spot” courtesy visa, allowing him to cross the frontier.
Although traversing Africa is his greatest obstacle, it is not his initial endeavour.
From Asia to England at the age of 22, Mr Cook completed 71 marathons in 66 days.
His prior running experience was limited to the Brighton Marathon prior to deciding to run from Asia to England.
