Clarion’s Stuart Hunter completes the ‘Spartan Beast’ raising vital funds for gambling industry charity

Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter has completed one of the most challenging endurance races open to amateur athletes tackling the 21km (13.1 mile) 30 obstacle Spartan Beast trail course and in the process raising crucial funds for the gambling industry charity CHIPS.

Stuart, who completed the ‘Beast’ in a highly respectable time of 3hrs 51 minutes, raised over £4,000 for the children’s charity which provides powered wheelchairs for youngsters with profound mobility issues.

Reflecting on the challenge which involved a variety of punishing obstacles including a 100m barbed wire crawl and the Tyrolean Traverse which involves hanging upside down for an extended period he said: “The ‘appeal’ of taking on an event such as the Spartan Beast is that it takes you to your physical and mental limits.

“As well as being physically fit and injury free you also need a positive mental space and mindset to push through 13 miles stopping at over 30 strength tests along the way.

“Running for a really brilliant charity such as CHIPS which was formed by members of the gambling industry helped me turn the challenge of completing the Spartan into a force for good and reinforced the positivity that’s so important when you step so far out of your comfort zone.

“I would like to say a massive thank-you to everyone in the international industry who has contributed so generously to my fundraising. Each powered wheelchair funded by CHIPS costs in the region of £6,000 – I have some way to go to get that sum over the line and as a result transform the life of a youngster.”