West Bromwich marathon man Dave Heeley is off to a flying start

Mar 31 2008 By Steve Johnson

MARATHON man Dave Heeley was given a send-off fit for a hero as he headed out to Brazil to prepare for the challenge of a lifetime.

Family and friends gathered at Dave's home in Oak Road, West Bromwich, to wave him away as he was whisked down to Heathrow in style in a Bentley Flying Spur.

Father-of-three Dave, aged 50, is aiming to make history by becoming the first blind man to complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

After a week in Rio de Janeiro, Dave flies onto the Falkland Islands at the weekend, ready for the first marathon in his epic 7/7/7 challenge on April 7.

From there it is back to Rio for marathon number two, followed in quick succession by five more runs - in Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai, Tunis and the London Marathon on April 13.

Dave, who has been visually impaired since birth and was registered blind 20 years ago, said before he set off that he was feeling quietly confident.

"Both me and my running partner Malcolm 'Mad Mac' Carr are well up for it," he said.

"We both feel great, fitter than we have ever been, and we are sure we can do this.

"Hopefully there are no hitches with the flights or the logistics of the challenge," added Dave.

Dave, who was waved off yesterday by his wife Debbie, aged 42, and children Grace, aged 17, Georgie-Lee, six, and Dannie, aged four, is hoping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Only two other people -famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud -have ever completed the gruelling 7/7/7 feat.

Debbie said: "Dave and Malcolm have been in the air overnight and are due to land at Rio at 9.20am our time today. Thankfully Dave did not get caught up in all the problems at Heathrow - he flew out of Terminal 2 and not Terminal 5."

Dave has taken with him a mascot from Bromford Lane Gardeners Club in West Bromwich, a fluffy poodle with glasses he has jokingly christened Cor See.

He also packed a pennant from West Bromwich Albion football club, a Sandwell Council coat of arms, and a shirt from Wednesbury rugby club.