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Dubai: "Blind Dave" Heeley completed his fifth marathon in five days in under five hours at Dubai’s Safa Park on Friday.
He started the challenge at 8am at Gate 1 of Safa Park, drawing a crowd of onlookers and well wishers. The temperature was soaring to 32 degrees when he finished the run.
Heeley is aiming to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. If successful, he will be the first blind person to complete such a feat, and the third only in the world.
An emotional Heeley thanked the runners who supported him in his challenge as well as members of Foresight—the non-profit organization raising funds and awareness for blindness and eye disease research.
Heeley has been blind for 22 years after losing his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa. He walks with a guide dog.
His record-breaking challenge in Dubai is to raise funds for the charity Guide Dogs for the Blind in the UK and also raise awareness of the disease.
"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 said at the start of his Dubai challenge.
He was supported on-site by members of Foresight, running teams such as the Dubai Road Runners, Creek Striders, charity group Team, and sponsors Golin Harris and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
When he reached the finish line, Heeley was presented with a certificate of achievement from Foresight, along with Nasser Al Marzouqi, an Emirati member of the Dubai Creek Striders who completed the marathon alongside Heeley.
"Blind Dave" and his guide runner Malcolm Carr were taken to the Movenpick Hotel after completing the marathon to receive ice-baths and two courses of carbohydrate-rich food.
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.
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