Endurance athlete Russ Cook, aka the Hardest Geezer, captured the attention of the world when he became the first person to ever run the full length of Africa in April 2024. The 27-year-old from West Sussex raised more than £1 million for charity during 352-day ultramarathon.

In the build up to the momentous Project Africa, Russ had built a following on YouTube with content that proved his grit and determination. He is the only person to have run from Istanbul to London solo and unassisted, has he been buried alive for a week and holds the world record for the fastest marathon while pulling a car. Russ is also an adventure coach for The Running Charity, a national organisation guiding and inspiring young people by boosting their mental health and resilience.