Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man for Sport Relief

As a personal homage to the 27 years that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, Eddie Izzard is going to run 27 marathons across South Africa, in 27 days. 

Throughout his journey he will explore the history of South Africa and Nelson Mandela as well as visiting communities, organisations and families that have all been helped by the work of Comic Relief.

This mammoth undertaking will culminate in Pretoria on Sunday 20 March, at the same time as the Sport Relief Games will be taking place across the UK.

Eddie’s route will trace the story of Nelson Mandela’s life, starting in his birthplace, before journeying to the school and university that he attended, then on to Cape Town and Robben Island where he was imprisoned. If Eddie completes all 27 marathons, he will end at the Union Buildings in Pretoria where Nelson Mandela gave his inaugural speech as the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1994.

"I tried to do this four years ago and failed. This time I will succeed. But if I fail, I will come back again and again and again until I do succeed. Because that's what Nelson Mandela would have done." – Eddie Izzard