Who is Hardest Geezer Russ Cook and has the YouTube star finished Project Africa?
IT’S FAIR to say that when it comes to being an ultramarathon runner, Russ Cook is at the top of his game.
Known as the Hardest Geezer, the adventurer is attempting to cross the entire length of Africa.
Who is Russ Cook?
Born in 1997, Russ Cook is an athlete hails from Worthing in West Sussex and is also a YouTube star.
He began his love of extreme running after a friend encouraged him to take part in the Brighton half marathon – and he has never looked back.
Russ also has a huge following on his popular Instagram handle @hardestgeezer.
On there he keeps his fans up-to-date with his latest extreme challenge.
How did Hardest Geezer get his name?
Russ Cook is nicknamed the Hardest Geezer thanks to the incredible challenges he has taken on.
Prior to his Project Africa challenge, Russ was best known for becoming the first person to run from Asia to London in 2019.
He also completed 71 marathons in 66 days as travelled from Istanbul, Turkey, to Worthing, passing through a total of 11 countries.
Amazingly, Russ has also completed a marathon on crutches, ran a marathon while drinking a beer after each mile and was buried alive for a week.
Why is ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook participating in Project Africa?
Called Project Africa, Russ’ quest is to “become the first person ever to run the full length of Africa,”, while raising money for charity.
The race, which is about 9000 miles is from the tip of South Africa to Tunisia.
It’s about throwing everything and the kitchen sink at life. It’s about learning & sharing cultures and showing people that dreams don’t always have to stay dreams.
Russ Cook
Speaking about his quest he wrote on social media: “Project Africa is about lots of things. It’s about a seeing how far I can push my limits.
“It’s about throwing everything and the kitchen sink at life. It’s about learning & sharing cultures and showing people that dreams don’t always have to stay dreams.
“It’s about creating an impact that goes beyond just one geezer running across a continent.”
What charity is Russ running for?
Kindhearted Russ is doing this challenge to raise money for good causes.
There are three charities who will benefit from his fundraising and they are:
- The Running Charity – They aim to help to transform the lives of young people affected by homelessness and multiple or complex needs.
- Sandblast – This charity helps Saharawi refugees.
- Water Aid – A global charity working to help provide clean water across the world.
When is Russ Cook due to finish Project Africa?
Russ is expected to complete his quest on April 7, 2024.
His final stop is Bizerte in Tunisia, and once he arrives there it means he would have run across 16 countries.
The enormous challenge has seen him take on some the most hostile environments on the planet – including jungles and rainforests.
Once he completes the challenge, Russ has revealed he is going to have a party.
Announcing the news on Twitter/X he said: “Cannot quite believe it but we’ve managed to pull off @softplayband playing the finish line party in Tunisia.
“7th April at the Sidi Salem hotel in Bizerte. Anyone that can get themselves there is welcome. Get your daiquiris ready girls & boys this is gonna be mega.”
How much has Russ Cook raised so far for Project Africa?
On March 23, 2024 Russ gave an update on how much money he had managed to raise so far.
Thanks to donations, he has raised a whopping £254,165.
People can continue to donate through his fundraising page even after he has finished the challenge in April 2024.
Was Hardest Geezer kidnapped?
While attempting to run across the entire length of Africa, Russ revealed he was kidnapped.
Speaking in August 2023, he said: “Gonna be honest the last few days have probably been some of the toughest of my life. On day 102 I was separated from the boys & the support van after some impassable roads in the planned route.
“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. 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.”
But things then went from bad to worse after he realised the support van couldn’t reach the road before two men suddenly “pulled up on a bike.”
He added: “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.”
Russell explained that he was later pulled into a hut after being driven to a village.
He said a group of men began to argue about what they should do with him.
The runner said he attempted to negotiate and get through to his team who organised a rescue, and took him to safety.
A few months before revealing he had been kidnapped, Russ had revealed in June 2023, how he was robbed at gunpoint
He said he was targeted by an armed gang in Angola, during his 9000-mile journey.