Finish line gig for man running length of Africa

British punk band Soft Play are to perform at the finishing line after a man running the length of Africa completes his final run.

Russell Cook, from Worthing, West Sussex, has run 376 marathons in 345 days across the continent.

He is due to finish the challenge on 7 April.

The 27-year-old has announced that Soft Play will perform at a finish line party at a hotel in Bizerte, Tunisia.

“Get your daiquiris ready girls and boys. This is going to be mega,” Mr Cook said.

The extreme challenge began at South Africa's most southerly point on 22 April, 2023, and is due to finish at Tunisia's most northerly point.

Mr Cook, nicknamed "Hardest Geezer", said on X, external, formerly Twitter: “Cannot quite believe it but we've managed to pull off Soft Play playing the finish line party in Tunisia. Anyone that can get themselves there is welcome.”

Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent formed the band under the name Slaves in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 2012.

In 2022, the band announced it would be changing its name to Soft Play, citing unwanted connotations to its original name.

Mr Cook had originally planned to complete 360 marathons in 240 days.

After complications with his visas, health scares, geopolitical issues and an armed robbery, he was forced to change his route, extending the challenge.

The challenge is in aid of The Running Charity and has raised £415,113 so far.

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