Russell approaches the finish line after the epic journey
British runner Russell Cook is on the cusp of achieving a remarkable feat: becoming the first person to ever run the entire length of Africa.
A British man is set to make history after a year-long odyssey
Cook embarked on this incredible mission in April 2023, captivating social media with his updates along the way.
He began his journey at the southernmost tip of South Africa and has since traversed countries like Namibia, Angola, and the Republic of Congo, clocking in a staggering 360 marathons over 240 days.
Cook has documented his journey with videos and posts, leaving viewers stunned.
Cook shared not only the beauty of the landscapes but also the hurdles he encountered.
Earlier this year, he faced a major obstacle: obtaining visas for Algeria. Cook publicly appealed for help, ultimately securing passage through the country.
"If we don’t get them, then it’s game over for project Africa," Cook wrote on X.
Another challenge involved running through a country Cook described as "the most dangerous" on his route, facing warnings about safety. Despite these concerns, Cook persevered and navigated through Nigeria.
"[I've] 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 continued.
Cook is set to complete his long challenge on Sunday.
Cook is set to complete his epic journey this Sunday, April 7th, in Bizerte, Tunisia. A celebratory party with a performance by British punk band Soft Play will mark this historic achievement.
"Get your daiquiris ready girls and boys. This is going to be mega," he worote on X.
Many direct users have left numerous words of positive encouragement to support Cook's final stretches.
Below the comments section, many direct users express utmost admiration for Cook's remarkable achievement, while others commend Cook for his noble mission.
One person said: Lions are not letting him through their territory, your welcome !!
A second wrote: It's been a hell of a story. Shortly after I first herd about him I read that due to the awareness of his mission and how popular it got that the poor dude got robbed whilst he was running. Just before the halfway mark.
While a third commented: Been following his journey from the start, it’s incredible what he’s done!
He’s gone run about 16,000 kilometres through 15 countries, that’s more than 370 marathons so far in under a year… insane! Another added.
