THE SENTINEL (Stoke on Trent, UK) 11 October 13 Tunstall ASDA's glass box man is trapped with a snake (Tania Steere)
When charity champion Richard Stonier was told he was about to enjoy a visit from a Duchess he might have envisaged his day a little differently.
Unfortunately for him, Duchess is not the wife of a prince or a member of the aristocracy – she's a 9ft Burmese python.
And brave Richard spent yesterday enclosed in a glass box with the snake as part of his bid to raise money for the Blurton-based Douglas Macmillan Hospice.
And 29-year-old's ordeal didn't end there – he was also visited by a tarantula, a chameleon and bearded dragons.
The personal trainer, of Tattershall Court, Shelton, has spent the last six days and nights in the glass box outside the Asda Store on Scotia Road in Tunstall as he tries to raise £10,000.
He said: "Today was a good challenge and I really enjoyed it. I was face to face with Duchess and she didn't flick out her tongue out so hopefully I don't smell too bad from being in here all week. I've had amazing support from everyone here.
"My aim is to raise money for the Dougie Mac, who cared for my mum who sadly passed away last November.
"I want to continue my mum's legacy of helping others and putting herself last."
Sarah Dring, a reptile handler from the scales and tales reptile house at Blackbrook zoo that will be opening next spring, provided the snake.
She said: "Whilst Duchess is not venomous, she is dangerous in the way that any animal has the potential to be dangerous if not handled correctly.
"Duchess is a Burmese python, one of the largest snakes in the world and she can grow up to 18ft."
Richard's friend Carl Heaton is also keeping him company in the box. The 46-year-old groundworker, of Cheadle Road, said: "It's been fantastic, it's a once in a lifetime experience to do this and we're raising money for a great cause."
Glyn Horsley, the director of scales and tales at Blackbrook zoo, said: "It's great to be able to come and support Richard in his fundraising and we've all had a really good time.
"Children have loved to come and see the reptiles and take pictures and learn all about them." This latest challenge is one of 40 challenges Richard will complete this year in an attempt to raise £40,000 to mark its 40th birthday.
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