A British man attempting to run the length of Africa has completed his mammoth challenge in Tunisia.
Russ Cook’s epic endeavour involved running 16,000 kilometres.
Cook – known as the “hardest geezer (old man)” has faced health problems, visa issues and even an armed robbery.
In Angola, he and his team were robbed at gunpoint. They had cameras, phones and passports stolen.
Then last 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.
The 27-year-old set off from South Africa’s most southerly point on April 22 last year.
He crossed the finish line in northern Tunisia yesterday – taking more than 19 million steps in 16 countries.
Cook has managed to raise more than $696,000 for the Running Charity and for Sandblast, which raises awareness of the indigenous Saharawis of Western Sahara.
But he wasn’t alone for the final leg of his journey.
He was joined by many supporters.
The end of the challenge was celebrated with a party at a hotel in Bizerte, Africa’s northernmost city.
“Can’t quite believe it but we managed to pull off my favourite musicians Soft Play playing the finish line party in Tunisia,” he told AFP.
The party continued into the early hours of the morning.
ALSO READ:
Conquering the Ultimate Test: Inside the Journey of a Comrades Marathon Champion;
