UAE | General
Blind Dave's fifth marathon draws huge support in Dubai
"Blind Dave" Heeley started his fifth marathon in five days on Friday, to a huge support from Dubai residents. Heeley is aiming to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 09:09 April 11, 2008
- Dave Heeley, with his guide dog Wicksie, is aiming to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
- Image Credit: Supplied photo
Dubai: "Blind Dave" Heeley started his fifth marathon in five days on Friday, to a huge support from Dubai residents.
Heeley—who is blind—is aiming to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
The fifth leg of his challenge started at Gate 1 of Safa Park in Jumeirah at 8am, and drew a crowd of onlookers and wellwishers, some of whom also ran at the start.
Heeley said at the start: "It's really a massive loss of confidence to lose your sight."
Non-profit organization Foresight is supporting Heeley in his challenge. If successful, he will be the first blind person to complete such a feat, and the third only in the world.
The organization aims to raise awareness and funds for research into eye disease and blindness, including Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).
Heeley said: "I'm really feeling the heat in Dubai! This is such important and hopefully life-transforming research. Losing your sight to RP, or any other disease, is devastating; with continued research in this area by organizations such as Foresight there will be hope for people in the future. "
Heeley runs with sighted guide Malcom "Mac" Carr, who is a fitness instructor at Heeley's local gym in the UK.
The next marathon is to take place in Tunis on April 12. 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.
Timeline
April 6: Heeley completes first marathon in the Falkland Islands
April 7: Second marathon takes place in Rio de Janeiro
April 8: Third leg of marathon in Los Angeles
April 10: (one day lost through travel) Heeley runs fourth leg in Sydney
April 11: Heeley has warm welcome from Dubai residents at the start of his fifth marathon in Safa Park, Jumeirah.
April 12: Heeley runs in Tunis
April 13: Heeley completes challenge by running the Flora London Marathon.
Share this article
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the emirates this week
Latest news
- Burj Al Arab celebrates its 10th birthday
- Policewoman charged with stealing Dh12,000
- Discipline those reserving parking slots
- Media, employers can do more to help disabled
- Support colleagues with arthritis, doctors advise
- Residents raise a stink over garbage collection
- Well-wishers welcome Haj pilgrims back
- Lifesavers to pit skills during Dubai event
- Music to get into the patriotic mood
- Saif: December 2 stands out in history
- Lebanese singer May Hariri dedicates song to people of the UAE
- Majida El Roumi's concert a big hit
- Top movie stars likely to grace DIFF
- National Day decorations
- Girl dies in fire started by stepbrother
Community Reports
-
Discipline those reserving parking slots
Some residents in Hor Al Anz are using unauthorised methods to hold parking spaces to ransom even when they have no use for them
-
A road that is best avoided
Thoroughfare connecting capital's Hamdan Street and Electra Street poses safety and health hazards
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
-
School buses must do safe drop-offs
Some bus drivers let students off at the wrong side of the road
