Brian Whittle MSP has been getting more than his hands dirty taking on the epic 10k Banchory Beast Race to raise funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. The South Scotland MSP and his North East colleague Liam Kerr MSP were challenged to take part by Willie Rennie MSP who has braved the Beast twice before.
Over 2,000 runners got stuck in and joined the MSP team with a brand new route, new obstacles and even more mud and muck for everyone to climb over, crawl under, wade through and drag themselves under.
This epic 10k obstacle race takes a record amount of participants over some very tough Scottish terrain testing the stamina of each and every runner. After running through the smoke the first obstacle that runners meet is a wall of chest height bales, followed by a battle through an ice cold jet blast which drives them into the deep swamp crossing, which then takes them on through this very challenging race. This year’s finale is a massive launch pad where runners were launched horizontally off the brand new water slide.
Former Olympian Brian even managed to live up to his reputation as “one shoe Whittle”, which he earned after running a gold medal winning time despite losing a shoe, when the sole of one of his trainers fell off three kilometres from the finish line! Fortunately, Brian used his past experience to good effect and successfully completed the race.
Although illness prevented Willie Rennie from taking part, Brian and Liam both successfully completed the race. So far, the race has raised over £20,000 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’m glad to have been able to take part and help raise much needed funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. When Willie first challenged me to take part, he forgot to mention the jet blast and the swamp, but as Willie knows, I can’t resist a challenge, even when it’s a very big, muddy challenge!”
Paul Corrigan Fundraising Manager North, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said:
“We are thrilled to be charity partners in the Beast again this year. It’s an incredible event with a great atmosphere with plenty of laughs, fabulous fancy dress and unwavering camaraderie amongst the brave beast runners who go above and beyond to help one another over the obstacles.”
“We have over 200 participants signed up this year specifically to raise funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and we are so grateful to all of those runners for supporting our charity. It’s great that Willie Rennie has dared his fellow MSP’s to take part and that they are up for traipsing through the glaur!”
“All money raised stays in Scotland and helps people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, making sure they can live life to the full with the right support when and where they need it.”
