Keith Boyd on track to break Cape to Cairo world record despite kidnapping attempt

Pippa Hudson speaks to Keith Boyd, Rainbow Runner.

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

In July last year, Keith Boyd set off to break the world record for travelling the entire continent, 10 000km, on foot.

While he has successfully made it to Cairo, his final destination, his journey is not over yet.

Boyd was forced to skip part of his Ethiopia journey after an attempted kidnapping and being held at gunpoint.

He says the gunmen bundled him and his Ethiopian videographer into a vehicle and tried to move them away from the road.

“If you get half a kilometer away from the road you might as well be 100 miles from anywhere. The police or the military just won’t find you there.”

- Keith Boyd, Rainbow Runner

The gunmen tried to get him to call his Cape Town based paramedic, Shadley, to bring the pickup vehicle back.

“Shadley had managed to get away and was actually unaware we were in trouble. I didn’t know that at the time, but I was just not going to phone and bring Shadley back into that mess.”

- Keith Boyd, Rainbow Runner

After a tense time, they were able to calm the situation down and ask the kidnappers some questions, making requests, and eventually making a deal.

Shortly after that, Shadley appeared out of the blue, completely unaware they were ever in danger.

The kidnappers claimed to be a part of a rebel movement named Fano, but Boyd cannot say for sure they are involved with that group.

They were eventually given a military escort to move an additional 100km, until it became too dangerous, leading to Boyd skipping to the next county, Sudan.

Despite this trauma, he is determined to beat the record of 318 days and wants to return to Ethiopia to complete the final 500km.

He is aiming to complete the challenge on 7 May, which will have him beating the world record by more than 30 days.

Boyd says he hopes his effort and determination will inspire young people to go out and vote and realise anything is possible.

"If I, an overweight 57-year-old, can break a 26-year standing record in one of the toughest endurance challenges out there in the world, just imagine what you could do if you put your mind to it?"

- Keith Boyd, Rainbow Runner

When asked if he would run another continent after this challenge, his answer was a very clear 'absolutely not.'

“I am not a runner, I am a socioeconomic activist. This run has been all about building a platform.”

- Keith Boyd, Rainbow Runner

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.