BLIND DAVE'S BLOG

26-03-2007

We catch up with Black Country marathon runner Dave Heeley'sbig fund-raising night in Walsall, andan experiment which involved plunging his legs into an ice cold bath after a race.Mad as a hatter or wot?

Saturday 10th March, was the first fund raising social event of the year, at the Saddlers Supporters Club in Walsall - a favourite venue of ours. In fact, it's the only venue now, it's a great club all round for entertainment.

The room was full and the night was compered by none other than Mr. Paul Burrell of Classic's drive time show. We kicked off the evening with a comedian, Nipper Thomas, who restrained very well from telling too many blue jokes; he was under orders from Debb.

Fossie, a local lad was making his first appearance as Elvis. I'm told he's a little shorter and maybe a little rounder than the original Elvis, but he was certainly alive and singing, put on a great show.

The stars of the evening were Quill and I think the general consensus of the people in the room and the fact it was packed, said they were great. Yes, it was a fantastic performance and even better when they played one of my favourites, The Devil Goes Down to Georgia - if you get the chance go and see them.

We raised on the night just short of £3000 and just over £400 was donated by the son of a good friend of mine Steve Meeson, who with his wife Dawn and his BT colleagues raised the money on a fund raising day at work. Well done that man. I really appreciate their efforts.

Yes another great night, like they all are and I hope once again every one enjoyed themselves, so bring on the next one in November. mind I hope it doesn't come round too quickly and this time I've arranged it not to coincide with a big run of ours. The next day saw us doing a 20 mile run in Sutton Park. Yes, a few were having a laugh at me drinking coffee instead of a pint, mind I did sneak a couple of pints, well Guinness gives you the iron to carry on, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Sunday morning was a bit of a shock to the system. In bed at around 2am and up again at 7am and the thought of 20 miles, coffee first, feed Wicksie then think about it.

Got to Sutton Park and there were plenty there, to be fair it is a popular run, because it's paced right, but guess what the pacer for our group hadn't turned up, so we had a volunteer to take their place and yes he shot off like a rocket. We paced ourselves and had quite a little group.

It's not an easy route around the park, a lot of up hill and one point it's a short, sharp, muddy hill and believe me it makes you breathe a bit heavy. We did three laps of the course and to be truthful it turned out to be only 17 miles, but with all the hills it was a good work out.

We met a few folks who where running the London marathon; all around our time so we are going to try and meet up in London and hopefully we'll try and run together. One particular chap was a physio and he was telling me about the benefits of having an ice bath after a run, helped the legs considerably he stated, I'd think about it, seemed a bit drastic to me, but if it worked for Paula Radcliffe why not.

After the night before I was admittedly a little tired but as I said it was enjoyable and yes I'm up for most things and I filled the bath with cold water. Debb said “You're not are you”.

I did, no messing, plunged right in and it was bloody cold, freezing in fact. I was moaning and groaning as the chap said for around 30 seconds and then sitting very still it got better. In fact I went numb and couldn't feel a thing. Debb was killing herself with laughter, I stood the three minutes or so, I couldn't feel my legs, but in truth I was worried about my little bits and pieces. What happened if they dropped off?

Let me tell you the shower, as hot as I could get it, was fantastic, but the surprising thing was, my legs felt absolutely great. Maybe, only maybe, I'll try it again. We won't say any thing about the little bits and pieces, except that they are still there!

Georgie-lee our middle daughter never ceases to amaze us. She came home on Monday to tell us she had been appointed a playground buddy. We were informed that a playground buddy was responsible for helping the other kids make friends, arranging games, comforting when they were upset or hurt themselves.

A whole host of things to do, in fact. Each year group has its own, and she was the buddy for Year One. It seems a very responsible position and were amazed how she takes things in her stride at five years of age and we couldn't believe it when she came home on Wednesday to say she'd been training all day to do the job of playground buddy correctly. Whatever next? She'll be having after school meetings!

She's a confident little girl and we hope it will put her in good stead for life in general. What we want to know is where she gets her intelligence from? It can't be me or Debb. To top it all, Dannie seems to be turning out the same, at 10 years of age. We're worried they will put us to academic shame, but as proud parents we say well done and keep up the good work.

On a social side the week has been quite enterprising, I was invited to a Black Country Sports Council summit, the event was opened by the showing of the film The Stirrer editor Adrian made of me, when I ran the New York marathon.

It was an interesting day met some very nice and interesting characters, having the opportunity to be involved in how people were trying to put the Black Country on the sporting map. They have some great ideas, and I believe with the help of the local councils, they could make the Black Country and surrounding areas, ideal places for outsiders wanting to visit, bringing with it economic growth and wealth. We do have some dinosaurs on our councils though.

Thursday saw a visit to RAF Cosford. Never been there before, and it was quite a place of interest. I was invited to go along to except a cheque on behalf of Guide Dogs. Steve the corporate manager asked me to accompany him.

I should have known better, a nice meal, pleasant company, a few glasses of wine and a sizable cheque, but guess what? There had to be a speech involved, and yes, you've guessed, I had to make it. Still, Steve is a good lad so I don't mind.

We were in two purpose made hangers, Steve explained that there were aeroplanes hanging from the roof, many actual planes from around the 50's and 60's, along with some bigger planes on the floor, one in particular an old BOAC plane, a blast from the past. It seemed a little strange sitting eating your meal under the wing of a large jet. It was certainly a different type of venue for an evening out. Wicksie got all the fuss and attention from all the young ladies, again!

Later in the week I got invited on to a radio programme, being broadcast from Glasgow. It was a station I believe was specific to blind listeners, the topic was DIY. Once again I was picked up from Adrian's film, because I'm a bit of a carpenter and the presenter simply wanted to ask a few questions regarding to simple DIY. Whenever the word simple's mentioned, why does every one think of me?

A survey was done, and at this point able-bodied people were asked the questions and I was quite surprised at the answers. How many could change a light bulb? One in ten was the answer. I can do that! How many can wire a plug? Most answered we ask Dad or a family member. But with the help of someone's eyes, I can do that too!

And how many can put up a shelf? Most answered ask Dad, or a family member. But I can do that too! So perhaps I'm not so thick after all. If any one would like to have a listen to the programmes they put out, try this website and let us know what you think Viponair.com, always nice to promote a new station, keep listening they may feature us days before the London marathon.

Well I can't believe there has been no incidents this week, Wicksie has been behaving, Mac has either been to Spec Savers or he's on the alert, but you know what that generally means, yes you've guessed I'm going to suffer big style next week, so here's a smiling Blind Dave, with fingers, toes and no black eyes, yet, signing off.

To find out more about Dave's plan to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents next year visit www.justgiving.com/777

And to watch the film Personal Best - The Story of Blind Dave click here.