An enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers greeted Russ Cook of Worthing, U.K., aka @HardestGeezer, who ended his transcontinental run of the length of Africa Sunday after almost a year on the road. Cook left Cape Agulhas, South Africa, on April 22, 2023, passing through 16 countries, covering more than 15,000 km and raising more than £700,000 for charity before ending his run at the northern tip of Tunisia. He is the first person to travel the length of the continent on foot.
The 26-year-old’s journey was complicated by visa hassles, health challenges, and crime (at one point he and his crew were robbed at gunpoint, losing their cameras, phones, cash and passports, causing a delay of more than a month). The biggest challenge was obtaining travel visas for Algeria, the second-last country he needed to travel through; his original goal was to have been finished by Christmas 2023.
Cook was not travelling alone; he had a small crew who accompanied him by van, documenting his journey and providing support. He covered an average of about 50 km per day (a marathon is 42.2 km).
British ultrarunner mugged at gunpoint during run across Africa
The money raised will go to two charities: The Running Charity, which supports people experiencing homelessness or who have complex needs , and Sandblast, which supports Saharawi people in the U.K. His goal is to reach £1,000,000.
Cook is still accepting donations, here.
