Hardest Geezer: 'I hope I can inspire people'

Russ Cook has raised more than £1m for charity

A West Sussex man who ran the length of Africa for charity says he hopes to inspire people to overcome adversity.

Russell Cook, known by his social media name Hardest Geezer, ran nearly 10,000 miles from South Africa to Tunisia.

The 27-year-old from Worthing raised more than £1m for The Running Charity and Sandblast during his run which began in February 2023 and ended in April this year.

He said running doesn't come naturally to him and admitted his path to becoming an athlete had been unusual.

"It started in a nightclub when I ran home, and I ended up running a marathon shortly after," he said.

Mr Cook has been candid in the past about mental health and alcohol issues as a teenager.

"Hopefully that can inspire people to see a way forward, no matter what point they're at in their life."

Russ Cook said he thought he was going to die after being kidnapped

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Cook became separated from the team escorting him in a van.

"The boys tried to send out search parties and before we know it, there's a bunch of people thinking if they come and get me, they'll get paid a bunch of money."

He was taken on a seven-hour motorbike journey to a remote village, where he was held hostage.

"I thought I was going to die," he admitted.

"Eventually, we managed to make contact my team and they started a two-day rescue mission through the jungle to come and get me."

Launching his new book, Mr Cook said his journey, both through Africa and beforehand, had been full of adversity.

"The biggest lesson I've learnt is there is always light at the end of the tunnel."