Dubai supports blind runner's challenge magnificently

As he starts his first marathon on April 7th in the Falkland Islands (Antarctica) he will have the knowledge that he has an amazing amount of goodwill and support waiting for him in Dubai for his 5th marathon to spur him on.

Dave has lost his sight due to a hereditary eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and will be running with his sighted guide Malcolm Carr.

"Blind Dave" as he calls himself, is facing a punishing schedule that involves running 183.4 miles in a week - 26.2 miles a day - putting incredible strains on his body.

At each place that he visits, Dave has a local charity partner as the aim of his challenge is to benefit people who are blind and visually impaired.

Foresight has supported Dave's Dubai stage and people from all sections of the community have joined together to make this a real success not just on the day itself but in the build up to Dave's arrival.

"We intend to give Dave and Malcolm, his sighted running guide, the warmest welcome in the world," says Katy Newitt, Chairwoman of Foresight who also has RP. Katy ran the London Marathon with her sighted guide in 2005.

Chris Canning from Moorfields Eye Hospital, Dubai commented on the impact of retinal disease in this region.

"The eye is affected in many genetic diseases and genetic disease is the cause of the majority of blindness in childhood in the Middle East. Great advances are being made in the understanding of these conditions in laboratories around the world, and there is now the real possibility that treatments will be developed. Research groups at Moorfields in London are at the forefront of these efforts and we in Moorfields Dubai are keen to identify as many families with genetic eye disease as we can".

People in Dubai can support Dave in many ways. On Friday 4th April local runners have organised the Dubai Night of Marathons from 6pm until 6am at Safa Park.

Everyone is welcome to enter whether they run a whole marathon or walk a few steps.

The aim is to equal the combined number of paces that Dave will take during his 7 marathons which is over a quarter of a million steps (or 87 times round Safa Park).

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai's premier residential golf development and host venue for the Dubai World Championship from 2009, is to be a gold sponsor of Dave Heeley's bid.

Lewis Naim, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Leisurecorp, the owner of Jumeirah Golf Estates, said: "Dave Heeley is a truly inspirational sportsman and Jumeirah Golf Estates had no hesitation at all in supporting his amazing world record attempt. It takes an extraordinary individual to take this on, and it was his focussed ambition that attracted us to support his Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge.

"I'm also really proud that our Leisurecorp employees have shown their support to this event, by committing to participate in the Dubai Night of Marathons"'

Silver sponsor, GolinHarris, a global PR agency with regional headquarters in Dubai and offices in key markets across the Middle East has rallied an enthusiastic team as you would expect from PR professionals.

"Advocating CSR, cause-related marketing and philanthropy activities to our clients is one thing, being able to demonstrate our own commitment and support of the GolinHarris team is a different story. We really want to help Foresight achieve its objectives for this event and for its extensive range of activities geared towards helping people who need their expertise and dedication," said Talal Eid, Managing Director, GolinHarris.

On April 11th Dave and his team will arrive in Dubai and be transported courtesy of Gargash Enterprises, the exclusive Mercedes-Benz distributor, directly to Safa Park to commence his 5th marathon at about 8am.

Dave's intense training programme has included simulating special conditions to ensure he is ready for the heat and humidity in Dubai.

He aims to finish his marathon in around 5 hours time.

The duo will then be taken to the Mövenpick Hotel, where helpful staff will fulfill very special requirements to

ensure both runners remain in peak condition ready for their next marathons.

This treatment includes ice baths and nutritious energy bars.

Ewan Ramsay, General Manager of Gargash Enterprises, authorized distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, is glad to be contributing to such a worthy cause.

"It is with great pleasure that we are providing Blind Dave with assistance during his stay here regarding transportation, and will do our utmost to support him in any other way possible. Dave really does deserve a medal and more for the awareness he is creating about his condition and guide dogs. Gargash always will support such commendable causes," stated Mr. Ramsay.

Dave has been really impressed by the backing he has received from Dubai, "The hot conditions will be particularly challenging when I run in Dubai so it has been a boost to receive so much goodwill from the UAE. As I complete each leg of the challenge I want to ensure I have done something to help raise awareness of visual impairment on that continent. By working with Foresight I hope to achieve this in Dubai. We don't have a specific fundraising target - I just hope to raise as much as possible".

"Dave gives an important message to us all to focus on our abilities rather than our disabilities and is a true inspiration. With the right support, people who are visually impaired can achieve their ambitions. Foresight aims to give support to people with sight loss in the community in many ways and provide hope that a cure will be found for hereditary eye disease" says Katy Newitt.