A British man who calls himself the “Hardest Geezer” has finished running the length of Africa after a gruelling challenge that has taken nearly a year.
Russ Cook, from Worthing, West Sussex, was joined by supporters as he crossed the finish line in Ras Angela, Tunisia, the most northern point of the African continent on Sunday.
He began his 16,000km (9,941 miles) journey in the most southern point, Cape Agulhas in South Africa, on 22 April 2023.
The 27-year-old had said he would become the first person to run the full length of Africa if he completed the challenge.
He has crossed 16 countries and run the distance of around 376 marathons.
In the hours before completing the challenge he posted on the X social media platform: “Can’t believe it’s nearly over. See you at the shell garage soon boys & girls.”
Mr Cook, who has raised more than £560,000 for two charities, has not just had the intense heat and physical exhaustion to contend with.
Russ Cook’s route across Africa
In Angola, he and his team were robbed at gunpoint. They had cameras, phones and passports stolen.
Then in August, he went missing and was separated from his supporters for days in the jungle in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
They eventually managed to free him by paying off villagers who were armed with machetes.
Russ Cook in Algeria in the final days of his attempt to run the length of Africa. Pic: Hardest Geezer
In January, he turned to social media to help get a visa to cross the border from Mauritania into Algeria.
At the time, he said his challenge could end without the visa as there was “no other way” for him to reach the northern tip of Africa.
After a huge social media campaign, the Algerian Embassy said it would grant him a courtesy visa “on the spot”, meaning he could cross the border.
For the final day of his challenge, Mr Cook invited his supporters to take on the last marathon with him.
Writing on X, where he has been sharing regular updates during his challenge, he said: “Wanted to open up the last day of this project to anyone and everyone who has been watching and supporting.
“Come and run the last marathon, the last half, 10km, five kilometres, one kilometre. Whatever you fancy.”
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Russ Cook in Algeria before crossing into Tunisia. Pic: Hardest Geezer
Russ Cook (L) running through Senegal. Pic: X/@thehardestgeezer
Mr Cook also announced he will be throwing a finish line party to celebrate his achievements at a hotel in Bizerte, Tunisia.
The party is set to feature a performance by rock band Soft Play, formerly known as Slaves, comprising Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman.
Mr Cook wrote on X: “Can’t quite believe it but we’ve managed to pull off Soft Play playing the finish line party in Tunisia.
“Get your daiquiris ready girls & boys this is gonna be mega.”
The money he has raised during the challenge, known as Project Africa, will be donated to The Running Charity, which supports the mental health of young people with complex needs or who are homeless, and Sandblast which educates people about Sahrawi culture.
Although the run across Africa was his biggest challenge, it wasn’t his first.
At 22, Mr Cook ran from Asia to England, completing 71 marathons in 66 days.
He had only run the Brighton Marathon before he decided to run from Asia to England.
