'Hardest Geezer', 27, begins his final marathon after running 385 of them ... trends now
A British man attempting to become the first person to run the length of Africa has been joined by hundreds of supporters as he sets off for the final day of his incredible 9,500-mile challenge.
Russ Cook, an extreme marathon runner who calls himself 'Hardest Geezer' on social media, has been running for more than 350 days, completing the equivalent of 385 marathons.
The 27-year-old, from Worthing, West Sussex, crossed the border into Tunisia - the most northern point of Africa - on Thursday night and is hoping to cross the finish line in Ras Angela today.
Cook - who has survived a gunpoint robbery and a kidnapping by machete-wielding thugs in the jungle - has set off for the last 25 miles this morning. He has been joined by loyal fans, with some dressing up as him by wearing fake ginger beards.
'One more day, one final push to get this thing done,' he said to Sky News shortly after setting off wearing a retro England football shirt and a bucket hat.
He said he had a 'few tears' this morning, adding: '352 days on the road is a long time without seeing family, my girlfriend. My body is in a lot of pain but I've only got one day, I'm not about to complain. We're going to have strawberry daiquiris on the beach tonight, it's going to be unreal.'
Russ Cook, who is attempting to become the first person to run the length of Africa, has been joined by hundreds of supporters as he sets off for the final day of his incredible 9,500-mile challenge
Russ Cook has been met by supporters as he nears the finish line in Tunisia
He is pictured making his way to Ras Angela in Tunisia as he attempts to become the first person to run the length of Africa
His supporters have dressed up in fake ginger beards as they wait for him to pass by
Cook describes himself as 'Worthing's Hardest Geezer' and has battled through many challenges
Cook has raised £615,000 for charity so far, with more than £250,000 donated over the last seven days as his loyal following spur him on.
Last night, he posted to his 901,000 followers on Instagram: '16,250km. 351 days. 385 marathons. 16 countries. £574k raised for charity. We've come a long way. One last push tomorrow for the record books.'
Cook, who began his remarkable journey at Cape Agulhas, South Africa, in April 2023, says he will be the first person to ever run the full length of Africa if he completes the challenge.
But not only has the journey been a testament of mental and physical strength, Cook has also been robbed at gunpoint, held hostage and almost forced to stop the challenge after he was left visaless at the Mauritanian border.
Originally he had hoped to achieve the mega distance in 240 days, but different obstacles have delayed his finish by around 100 days.
When he was travelling through Angola at around 1800miles into his run, he was set upon by armed thugs.
Cook claimed his support van was raided by 'desperate blokes with guns' and that the armed men stole his team's cameras, mobile phones and some passports, as well as wads of cash.
He added that nobody on his crew was hurt in the armed hold-up.
Then in August he was 'kidnapped' by a gang of men armed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He documented the ordeal on social media: 'In an attempt to find the boys at a village on the plan B route, I stumbled into a rural settlement where the chief told me I must give him money. I had none,' the runner wrote on day 107.
He added: 'So that went down well. Pretty soon I found myself surrounded by lots of game blokes with machetes. Was escorted out the village into the bush.
'Emptied my bag to show I had nothing but a half eaten biscuit. Gave it to them, and ran. Spent the next few hours bushwhacking through overgrown jungle paths. Trying to stay off any tracks until I was far away.
Russ Cook, 26 from Worthing, West Sussex dubbed 'Worthing's Hardest Geezer' started the challenge 351 days ago
