Running a marathon is a challenge most would only tackle once in their lifetime. Running seven marathons in seven days, without the use of sight, is incredible.
But that isn't going to stop Englishman David Heeley, who is making the final preparations to do just that.
Heeley, aged 50, will run seven marathons in seven days and Dubai will have the privilege of hosting one of his attempts.
If successful, Heeley will be only the third person in the world to achieve the challenge and, more importantly, the first blind or disabled person ever to attempt this incredible physical feat.
Charity
Dubai-based, Foresight, the local charity partner, has planned a Night of Marathons in a bid to support Heeley's grand attempt as well as raise money for local blind people.
The organisation, whose chairwoman, Katy Newitt suffers from the same hereditary eye disease as Heeley, is holding a 12-hour non-stop marathon — Night of Marathons — on April 4 at Safa Park. And a week later, Heeley will run his marathon at the same location where everyone can take part in the challenge.
Heeley will be running with his sighted guide, Malcolm — something Newitt knows all about.
She said: "I started fundraising to help research into a cure for the disease retinitis pigmentosa, which has made me lose my sight, by running the Dubai and London marathons. Dave is also blind from the same cause. Foresight is delighted to be involved with this amazing challenge."
For everyone
Dubai will be the fifth leg of Heeley's challenge and will take place on April 11. Heeley, or Blind Dave, as he likes to be known, will arrive in Dubai on the day and will head off straight to Safa Park to begin the attempt.
Newitt wants to encourage everyone to take part in the Night of Marathons. "Get involved. Feel inspired and be a part of history in the making," she said.
"We are encouraging everyone to come along and run, walk or stroll in the 12-hour Night of Marathons and support Dave."
Newitt added: "The aim is for everyone's combined distances to total the amount that Dave will run in seven marathons."
Excited about having such wonderful support in Dubai, Heeley said: "Having an army of supporters to run alongside me in Dubai will make such an enormous difference."
"I will carry every single person that joins me for the 26 miles of the route in my heart, as I prove to the world that sight loss is no barrier to independence and human achievement."
Foresight is a UAE-based non-profit making organisation and a branch of Tamkeen, which aims to accelerate finding cures for retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
The charity also aims to improve lives of people who are visually impaired and blind in the UAE.
Did you know?
Only internationally renowned British sighted adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud have ever completed this ultimate endurance test.
