“Imagine starting from South Africa and running all the way to Tunisia…». Could this have been an innocent thought of a small child looking at the map of Africa. She had o Russ Cookmade it a reality and stayed in the history of humanity.
The 27-year-old Brit is the first person to run it Africa from its southernmost tip to its northernmost. Their journey began 16,000 kilometers from Cape Aghulas, South Africa on April 23, 2023 and on the 7th of the same month a year later it reached its destination. In Ras Angela, Tunisia, the finisher’s ribbon had been laid and the runner from Worthing, East Sussex, wrote the epilogue to his unique mission.
The first person ever to run the entire length of Africa. Mission complete?? pic.twitter.com/PZk5aDCDgH
— Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) April 7, 2024
“It was very good, I’m a little tiredhe told reporters a few minutes after his unimaginable feat.
Almost a year and precisely 352 days later, the “toughest falcon” as he calls himself, completed the enormous undertaking. He ran through 16 countries, covered a total distance 376 Marathon roads(!), but above all he survived in the terrifying setting of Africa.
#ProjectAfrica Days 343-349
Day 343: 75.7km
Day 344: 75km
Day 345: 75km
Day 346: 75.5km
Day 347: 34.7km
Day 348: 85.4km
Day 349: 81kmTotal raised for @Running_Charity @sandblastarts £543,986
Here we go. Crossed the border from Algeria to Tunisia last night marking the 16th and… pic.twitter.com/2aFWLqvZSN
— Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) April 5, 2024
He and his team fell robbery victims in Angola, with the perpetrators taking cameras, phones and passports at gunpoint. In the Congo, the great protagonist was cut off from those who followed them after disappearing for days in the jungle. His supporters paid a considerable sum to have him release from locals who were holding him hostage!
The obstacles high and often, since in addition to the climate, windstorms and heat he faced, last January he asked for help via social media to get the visa that would guarantee him entry to Algeria. There was no other way to the finish and the “wave” of support for Russ Cook found a response. The Algerian embassy gave him the necessary documents to enter the country and achieve his goal. Situations most suggestive of film than in reality!
15,553km ran
368 marathons
15 countries ??????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????
£269k raised for charity340 days? 11 left to go?? pic.twitter.com/rOLH7BwCC9
— Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) March 27, 2024
In the final kilometers Cook invited their supporters to run with him. The “Africa” project as he called it had a huge impact and success, having collected 600,000 British pounds. Its purpose is to strengthen it charity work that helps children with special needs or the homeless.
The huge journey he traveled is not the only one. At the age of 22 he ran from Asia to England covering a distance of 71 Marathons and now he managed the impossible. To run Africa vertically and become an example to follow.
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
