Russ Cook dinner of southern England crossed jungle and desert, swerved battle zones and was delayed by theft, damage and visa issues
Writer of the article:
Revealed Apr 07, 2024 • Final up to date 3 hours in the past • 2 minute learn
Article content material
Sore and sandblasted however triumphant, runner Russ Cook dinner reached the northernmost level of Africa on Sunday, nearly a 12 months after he set off from its southern tip on a quest to run the size of the continent.
Dozens of supporters gathered on a rocky outcrop beside the Mediterranean in northern Tunisia, cheering on the British charity fundraiser, who has run greater than 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) throughout 16 nations in 352 days.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
“I’m a bit of bit drained,” Cook dinner mentioned — doubtless an understatement.
In the midst of his journey the 27-year-old endurance athlete from Worthing in southern England crossed jungle and desert, swerved battle zones and was delayed by theft, damage and visa issues.
Cook dinner — recognized on social media by his nickname, Hardest Geezer _ set off on April 22, 2023 from Cape Agulhas in South Africa, the continent’s southernmost level. He hoped to finish the journey in 240 days, working the equal of greater than a marathon each day.
He and his crew had cash, passports and tools stolen in a gunpoint theft in Angola. He was quickly halted by again ache in Nigeria. And he was nearly stopped in his tracks by the shortage of a visa to enter Algeria, earlier than diplomatic intervention from the Algerian embassy in Britain managed to safe the required paperwork.
Cook dinner, who has spoken about how working helped him cope with his personal psychological well being struggles, beforehand ran about 3,000 kilometers (2,000 miles) from Istanbul to Worthing in 68 days.
Commercial 3
Article content material
His African run has raised greater than 690,000 kilos ($870,000) for the Working Charity, which works with homeless younger folks, and Sandblast, a charity that helps displaced folks from Western Sahara.
“It’s fairly laborious to place into phrases, 352 days on the highway, very long time with out seeing household, my girlfriend,” Cook dinner informed Sky Information as he began working Sunday, accompanied by supporters who’d come from far and large to run the ultimate stretch with him. “My physique is in a variety of ache. However another day, I’m not about to complain.”
Cook dinner mentioned he deliberate to have fun with a celebration, the place British band Mushy Play was as a consequence of carry out.
“We’re going to have strawberry daiquiris on the seaside tonight,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be unreal.”
Our web site is the place for the most recent breaking information, unique scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and join our each day publication, Posted, right here.
Article content material
