Blind man to run seven marathons on seven continents in a week

Last updated at 17:50 11 January 2008

Dave, on left, will complete the challenge in the Flora London Marathon on April 13

A blind man is set to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

Dave Heeley, 49, will begin his Seven Magnificent Marathons Challenge on April 7, with the aim of increasing awareness of visual impairment around the globe and raising funds for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

His gruelling week begins in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Antarctica), followed by Santiago, Chile (South America), Los Angeles, USA (North America), Sydney, Australia(Australasia), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Asia) and Nairobi, Kenya (Africa).

The final leg will bring him back to Europe, where he will run the Flora London Marathon on April 13.

Mr Heeley, a carpenter from West Bromwich, West Midlands, said: "Having suffered sight loss, I know how terrifying life can seem.

"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.

"I am hoping to make a personal difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people worldwide by bringing mobility issues to the forefront of people's minds."

Mr Heeley, who has been registered blind for the past 20 years, will rely on his sighted guide Malcolm Carr to accompany him on the marathon circuit.

The challenge will require Mr Heeley, an experienced marathon runner, to cover 183.4 miles in a week.

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Guide Malcolm Carr, on left, will accompany him on the marathon circuit

He will run the first two marathons on April 7 to compensate for a day lost crossing the date line.

If successful, Mr Heeley will be the first blind person to complete the endurance challenge, which has so far been achieved only by Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes said: "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 more extraordinary by the fact that he's blind - further pushing the boundaries of human endeavour."

Dr Stroud said: ""The determination it will take for Dave to run 183.4 miles around the world for Guide Dogs, without the benefit of sight, is inspirational."

Mr Heeley is also appealing for an "army of supporters" to run alongside him in the Flora London Marathon, which will be the seventh time he has run it.

He said: "I will carry every single person that joins me for the last 26 miles of the challenge in my heart, as I prove to the world that sight loss is no barrier to independence and human achievement."

The charity Guide Dogs has provided Mr Heeley with three guide dogs over the past 10 years - Peter, Carla and, currently, Wicksie.

Details of Mr Heeley's Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge can be found at www.7mm.org.uk.