MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Blind Dave completes Falklands to London 7 continent marathon

A blind man who set himself a worldwide challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days finished his final run at the Flora London Marathon. Dave Heeley, 50, known as Blind Dave joined the London Marathon after spending a week running in the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia.

The father-of-three from West Bromwich was driven to the feat by a desire to raise £1 million for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. He run with a sighted guide, Mr Malcolm Carr, nicknamed "Mad Mac", their wrists linked by a simple yellow strap. The tortuous logistics for the trip fell to David Gagen, a former lieutenant colonel in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and a self-described "Mr Grumpy" who was forced more than once to drag the runners from meal tables to catch flights. Mr Gagen's anxiety levels peaked when the team was embroiled in a near-diplomatic incident with Argentina. First, authorities in Buenos Aires refused permission for a flight over Argentine airspace to reach the Falkland Islands. Then they demanded that the team land in Buenos Aires for "processing". "I wasn't sure if we were going to be allowed to take off again but thankfully it was all over in an hour," he said. The Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge began at Mount Pleasant in the Falklands at one minute past midnight GMT on Monday, April 7. Within 24 hours they had completed their second run in Rio de Janeiro. "Rio was tough," Mr Heeley said. "It was lonely, it was hard work. Physically and mentally it was just draining. It was a bad flight out from the Falklands to Rio, in a small private plane, which meant we couldn't get any sleep or stretch out, and we had to start running as soon as we arrived". From Rio it was on to California for a race at the Los Angeles Rose Bowl stadium, before boarding a plane to Sydney on Thursday for marathon number four. On Friday the runners struggled through the baking heat of Dubai, and their penultimate run took place yesterday in Tunis. Mr Heeley and Mr Carr finished the London Marathon in five hours and 23 minutes and was met by his wife Debbie, 42, and daughters Dannie, four, Georgie Lee, six, and Grace, 17. "I'm going to have a rest now; tothink last week I was in the Falklands, it's just too incredible for words", said Heeley. "It's going to take some quiet moments with the family for it to really hit home". "I am the first blind person to do this. It's been a fantastic adventure and one I'm going to talk about for a long time." He said he had chosen his charity so that "other blind people could have the freedom and independence I've had". Mrs. Heeley said: "I'm looking forward to having him home for a while".