UAE | General
'Blind Dave' one marathon away from completing record-breaking challenge
'Blind Dave' Heeley is just one marathon away from being the third person to ever run seven marathons in seven days in seven continents.
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 13:18 April 13, 2008
- Dave Heeley is running to raise awareness of diseases causing blindness and visual impairment.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Dubai: ‘Blind Dave' Heeley is just one marathon away from being the third person to ever run seven marathons in seven days in seven continents.
He completed his sixth marathon in Tunis on April 11 in 4 hours and 40 minutes. The team is currently en route to England, for the seventh and final Flora London marathon on Sunday, April 13.
Heeley and sighted running guide Malcolm ‘Mac' Carr ran the fifth leg of the challenge in Dubai's Safa Park on Friday, completing the run in 4 hours 55 minutes.
On completion of the final leg of the challenge, the Flora London Marathon on April 13, Heeley will have run a total distance of 295 kilometres in approximately 168 hours; taking more than 250,000 steps.
Heeley is running to raise awareness of diseases causing blindness and visual impairment and to generate funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind in the UK.
He is being supported in Dubai by non-profit organisation Foresight, which raises awareness and funds for eye disease research, including Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- UAE pilgrims are well and safe: Mission chief
- Appeals court acquits gardener of rape charge
- Woman injured in fall from balcony
- Suspects deny charges of trafficking and assault
- Reader helps police to bust brothel
- Mohammad receives Iceland's president
- Faded signage fails to guide visitors
- Tory chief vows to bolster ties with the UAE
- Hypertension affecting 36% of UAE population
- Rare wild cat discovered in Fujairah wadi
- Friendship festival loses steam due to lack of sponsors
- Ministries to help cut waistlines in schools
- Space experience awaits students at US camp
- Gang who robbed Dh1m from businessman nabbed
- Chinese duo held for assault, blackmail
Community Reports
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
