Falklands : Dave Heeley - Running Blind in the Falklands
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 13.03.2008 (Article Archived on 27.03.2008)
Guide Dogs for the Blind, a charity, is set to benefit from Mr Heeley's marathon participation
Photo (c) 7mm.org.uk
Running blind –
Dave Heeley’s global Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge to begin at
Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands
Seven marathons, seven days, seven continents
Pushing boundaries, living dreams
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in the UK announces that Mount Pleasant, Falkland
Islands, will be the start of one blind man’s extraordinary challenge to run the charity’s
Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge – seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven
days – starting at 2001 on Monday 07 April 2008.
Attracting huge media interest, the eyes of the world will be focussed on Mount Pleasant, as
50-year-old Dave Heeley – Blind Dave as he likes to be known – takes his first stride towards
proving to the world that sight loss is no barrier human achievement, and raise many
thousands of pounds for Guide Dogs so that more people can benefit form the
independence that these special dogs provide.
Supported by the Island’s Army, RAF and civilian communities, Blind Dave, his sighted guide
runner Malcolm Carr and the rest of the Seven Magnificent Marathons team will arrive
into Mount Pleasant on Monday 05 April on a private charter plane. The team will
travel to Port Stanley and have the honour of an evening reception with Governor
His Excellency Mr Alan Huckle at Government House, Stanley. The following day,
Dave and the team will attend a Sportsman’s brunch to raise funds for Guide Dogs,
Seeing is Believing and Help for Heroes at The Malvina House Hotel, Stanley
Current Port Stanley Marathon champion Hugh Marsden, who is also visually impaired,
will speak alongside Dave at the brunch, before the team travels back to Mount Pleasant
to prepare for the first of the seven gruelling marathons starting Monday 07 April at 2001.
Steve Dent, Recreation Manager for the Falkland Islands Government says: “The people
of the Falkland Islands are delighted to be welcoming Dave and his team to the Islands
for this very high profile event. The Falklands has a long history of supporting charity
events and we are confident that the community, both Civilian and Military, will get
behind this event with their normal vigour.”
Having completed the first of Seven Magnificent Marathons in Mount Pleasant, Dave
will leave Antarctica for his second marathon, which he will run in the same 24-hour
period*, in Rio De Janeiro (South America). He’ll then progress onto six subsequent
gruelling legs in Los Angeles (North America), Sydney (Australasia), Dubai (Asia),
Tunis (Africa) and London (Europe) – arriving in spectacular style for the Flora London
Marathon on Sunday 13 April.
Dave, who has been registered blind for the past 20 years, won’t be able to see the locations,
routes and supporters. He will rely on his sighted guide Malcolm Carr to accompany him
around the global marathon circuit. At home in the UK, Dave relies on the amazing work
of Guide Dogs, the charity that has provided him with life-changing freedom of mobility
through guide dog ownership spanning over 10 years, with three loyal and dedicated dogs;
Peter, Carla and currently Wicksie.
The challenge is far beyond the capabilities of most people, and Dave will need enormous
physical and mental stamina to complete his Seven Magnificent Marathons. The punishing
schedule involves running 183.4 miles in a week – 26.2 miles on each continent – putting
incredible strains on his body. He will need to remain focussed and use every ounce of
strength, as he smashes through pain barriers, time zones and jet lag; all factors he
will have to overcome as he pushes the boundaries of human endurance to
realise his dream.
Dave is a married father of three from West Bromwich, in the West Midlands, UK.
On completion of the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge, he will become the first
blind person to complete seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days.
Only internationally renowned British sighted adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike
Stroud – who are readily supporting Dave – have ever completed this ultimate
endurance test.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who also ran a leg of his seven marathons on the Falkland Islands, says:
"As one of only two people to have completed seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, I can tell you that it is perhaps the ultimate in physical endurance.
Dave's inspirational Seven Magnificent Marathons global challenge for Guide Dogs is made all the moreextraordinary by the fact that he’s blind – further pushing the boundaries of
human endeavour.
“I wholeheartedly support Dave as he runs the world to raise awareness of
visual impairment and celebrate the independence, freedom and confidence
that a guide dog provides.”
Dave explains the inspiration behind undertaking this ultimate in endurance:
“Around the world, every five seconds, someone loses their sight, and in many countries
there are few services or none at all to help them. In the UK alone, 100 people start to
lose their sight every day – with many thousands receiving inadequate support in getting
their lives back together after experiencing this loss.
“Having suffered sight loss, I know how terrifying life can seem. I have been fortunate
enough to have had my life transformed by Guide Dogs. That is why I am determined
to create awareness of visual impairment around the globe in an effort to improve services
for blind and partially sighted people, while also raising money for Guide Dogs. By doing
this, I am hoping to make a personal difference to the lives of people with sight loss
worldwide by bringing mobility issues to the forefront of people’s minds, and help fund the
training of more guide dogs for blind or partially sighted people in the UK.”
Dr Mike Stroud says: "Running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents will push
Dave to the absolute limit of his physical endurance - and is a human feat made all
the more poignant by the fact that he’s blind.”
Getting involved: Feel inspired and want to be a part of history? Join Dave as he
completes the first leg of his Seven Magnificent Marathons in Mount Pleasant, and help
him to become the first blind person to complete seven marathons, on seven continents,
in seven days. For more information about Seven Magnificent Marathons or to make a
donation, simply visit www.7mm.org.uk.
Says Dave: “Having an army of supporters to run alongside me in Mount Pleasant on the first
leg of my Seven Magnificent Marathons will make such an enormous difference. I will carry
every single person that joins me for the 26.2-miles of the route in my heart, as I prove to the
world that sight loss is no barrier to independence and human achievement.”
Says World famous marathon runner, Paula Radcliffe: “I hope thousands of people will
be inspired by Dave's amazing ambition - to complete seven marathons, on seven
continents, in seven days. It is amazing to see that sight loss does not prevent enjoyment
and achievement in long distance running.”
Find out more about Dave Heeley’s Seven Magnificent Marathons and to
donate to his inspirational global challenge visit www.7mm.org.uk.
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