Blind Dave: Heroic Sandwell fundraiser reflects on his 25 Great Runs
"I can't really believe that I've done it."
Those are the words of running legend Blind Dave Heeley as he looked back at his gruelling series of challenges in 2017.
The fundraiser extraordinaire completed all 25 Great Run events – the last of which was in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, just days after his 60th birthday.
And Dave, from West Bromwich, already has his next challenge lined up – he is plotting a tough trek along the Great Wall of China this year (2018).
Baggies fan Dave told the Express & Star: "When we spoke about it in Christmas 2016 we were looking ahead thinking how tough it would be.
"When we set off for the first run in Edinburgh in January we thought 'this has never been done' and we had another 24 to go.
"But now looking back it all seemed to go past so quickly.
"I can't really believe that I've done it.
"Twenty-four runs later we were in Ethiopia for the final one. I think that was one of the highlights of the whole year – it was the last one and we had also travelled nearly 1,100 miles just to run a 10k.
"The whole experience was absolutely brilliant."
For most runners completing 25 gruelling running events in a year would be unthinkable.
But for endurance running legend Dave it was just the latest stunning feat .
He has previously completed Marathon des Sables – dubbed the toughest footrace on earth – in the Sahara desert; the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in the cold waters off San Francisco; and was the first blind runner to complete The 7s – seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
Dave has raised more than £3 million for charity since his fundraising began and a film about his life is currently in production.
Completing the 25 Great Run events saw him cover nearly 250 miles.
He raised money for the Albion Foundation and is set to bring in around £30,000.
Reflecting on his 2017 success, Dave said: "There were so many highlights of the year.
"Edinburgh will be up there because it was the first one, then Dublin as well because it was the only Irish one.
"Manchester was very emotional because of the troubles that had gone on during that week.
"Then Birmingham was a really hard day – we did the marathon then the half-marathon on the same day.
"That was the toughest one."
He continued: "How do you run a marathon followed by a half, with just a 20-minute rest? Everyone was saying 'can you do it' and I just thought 'well we'll find out won't we'.
"I just took it as it came and we ploughed on through it. As it turned out it was fantastic – really tough but the crowds were brilliant.
"Then we had the Ethiopian run just to cap off the year."
Dave met one of his running heroes in Ethiopia – double Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie.
He said: "I said to him the day before the race 'I've come all the way to Ethiopia and I'm going to beat you tomorrow' and he said 'are you?'
"Then I said 'yes – because I know you're not running!'"
This year (2018) Dave is planning a six- to eight-day trek along the Great Wall of China in October and is also looking forward to the return of a colour run named after him in Sandwell Valley Country Park.
All Dave's 25 Great Runs:
Great Edinburgh Winter Run 5k on January 7.
Great Ireland 5k and Great Ireland 10k, April 9.
Great Edinburgh 5 Mile and Great Edinburgh 10 Mile on April 23
Great Birmingham 10k on April 30.
Great Bristol 10k on May 7.
Great Stirling Marathon on May 21.
Great Manchester Half Marathon and Great Manchester 10k on May 28.
Great Newham 10k on July 2.
Great North 10k on July 9.
Great Aberdeen Half Marathon and Great Aberdeen 10k on August 27.
Great North 5k on September 9.
Great North Half Marathon on September 10.
Great Bristol Half Marathon on September 17.
Great East Half Marathon Ipswich on September 24.
Great Scottish Half Marathon and Great Scottish 10k on October 1.
Great Birmingham Marathon and Great Birmingham Half Marathon on October 15.
Great South 5k, October 21.
Great Great South 10 Mile on October 22.
Great Ethiopia 10k on November 26.
