‘Worthing’s Hardest Geezer’, 26, who’s run 385 marathons across the entire length of Africa (and survived gunpoint robbery and a kidnapping by machete-wielding thugs on his travels) prepares to finish incredible 9,500-mile odyssey

He’s been robbed at gunpoint and kidnapped by machete-wielding thugs in the jungle. 

But extreme marathon runner and self-proclaimed ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook is set to become the first person to run across the entire length of Africa if he completes his incredible 9,500-mile journey later today.

The 26-year-old, from Worthing, West Sussex, has been running for 351 days and crossed the border into Tunisia – the most northern point of Africa – on Thursday night.

He is hoping to cross the finish line later in Ras Angela today, where he will be joined by supporters for the home straight. He 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, he 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. 

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

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

He is hoping to cross the finish line later today, where he will be joined by supporters for the home straight

 Originally he had hoped to achieve the mega distance in 240 days, but different obstacles have delayed his finish by around 100 days

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

Then in August he was ‘kidnapped’ by a gang of men armed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Russ Cook is pictured after enduring the ordeal of being robbed at gunpoint by thugs during his extraordinary run

‘Made it to the village on the plan B route to find the road was also impassable for the support van again. Exhausted and dehydrated, I started heading back to the last known place with passable roads when two blokes pulled up on a bike.

‘They spoke no English but tried to communicate I must come with them to get back to my friends.

‘What happened next was a seven-hour motorbike ride deeper into the jungle. In my head I thought this was it. Me. The self proclaimed hardest geezer. About to get held in a Congo gulag before being ripped apart limb by limb and eaten.’

Fortunately, Cook was driven into a village and moved into a hut where he recalled a group of men clashing over what to do with him and discussing how much money he owed them.

After some back and forth negotiations, he was able to contact his team who spent the next few days formulating a rescue plan.

Cook ultimately managed to escape, and despite most people’s expectation that he would catch the first flight home, he instead returned back to his start point that day and ran another 60km on a new route.

Alongside this he has faced multiple illnesses, including blood in his urine and crippling back pain.

Then in January his whole mission was nearly scuppered after he failed to get a visa to allow him to enter Algeria.

He is fundraising for 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

The athlete, who is a self-described former ‘fat lad’ with alcohol and gambling issues, was introduced to long distance running when he entered a half marathon aged 21

In a video posted to social media, Cook said the success of his challenge was now dependent on Algerian authorities granting him permission to enter.

‘Right girls and boys, we have a bit of a problem. We haven’t been able to get visas for Algeria, and if we don’t get them, then it’s game over for project Africa,’ he said.

‘I’ve been running now for 278 days, covered nearly 12,000km (7,456 miles) through 13 countries and raised over £140k for charity in my attempt to become the first person ever to run the entire length of Africa

‘But right now all of that is totally hanging on whether we can get permission from Algeria to let us cross in through this border with Mauritania,’ he said.

‘This is the only option we have left so, Algeria, if you’re listening, please reach out to me. Anything you need from us please let me know,’ he added, addressing Algerian authorities. ‘It would be an absolute privilege to visit your beautiful country.

‘To everyone following the journey online please help us out by sharing this and helping us get this seen by the appropriate people in Algeria.’

Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing, said he had been sent Cook’s video, and offered to help by contacting the Foreign Office.

‘Russ-have been sent this and I gather that you are from East Worthing,’ he said.

‘Can you email me some details and we will do what we can to help through the Foreign Office and Algerian Embassy.’

His social campaign worked and the Algerian Embassy said it would grant him a courtesy visa ‘on the spot’, meaning he could cross the border.   

The athlete, who is a self-described former ‘fat lad’ with alcohol and gambling issues, was introduced to long distance running when he entered a half marathon aged 21.

Since then he has gained a reputation for attempting trials of strength and endurance – he ran 71 marathons in 66 days from Asia to London in 2019, pulled a Suzuki Alto 26 miles along the south coast and was buried alive for a week in 2021.

He is fundraising for 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. 

You can donate to his cause here.