UAE | General
Seven days, seven continents, all for your eyes
'blind dave' completes fifth marathon in dubai to raise funds for guide dogs for visually impaired
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:38 April 12, 2008
Dubai: Running a marathon is a tough challenge for anyone. Running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents is another matter - let alone completing a challenge like this with a disability.
Dave Heeley is not letting anything stand in his way - not even the fact that he is totally blind.
Nicknamed "Blind Dave", Heeley is just one day from completing his record-breaking challenge and if successful, he will be the third person ever and the first blind person to ever take on such a feat.
Heeley lost his sight through hereditary eye disease 20 years ago, and runs with sighted guide Malcolm Carr. The challenge team also includes physiotherapist Phil Glasgow.
Gulf News caught up with Dave on the physiotherapy table, before the fifth leg of his challenge at Safa Park.
"I'm feeling fine at the moment - a few aches and pains," Heeley says.
"The support in Dubai is fantastic. The other mara-thons have gone very well actually - with the Falklands being cooler than the temperatures we're used to, it was fine. Rio was quite a lonely run, but this run in Dubai certainly isn't going to be lonely. Rio was hard work though - well, two marathons in one day within eight hours of each other is hard work! LA was good support-wise, weather-wise and course-wise and Sydney was a bit hotter."
Heeley is running to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind in the UK. He is being supported in Dubai by Foresight - a non-profit organisation that raises awareness and funds for blindness and eye disease research.
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.
Have your say
Do you know anyone who has lost their eyesight? How has that person coped? Tell us.
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
- No sweat! Book a taxi while on Metro
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
