Dubai: Visually-impaired runner Henry Wanyoike, and his running partner Joseph Kibunja, on Friday competed in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon again.

Wanyoike was guided by Kibunja, but his eagerness to complete the marathon and raise money for the blind made him push his body to the limit.

Wanyoike is linked to his guide by a tether on the wrist, which guides him through turns and helps him avoid obstacles on the course.

Speaking to Gulf News after completing his sixth marathon in Dubai, Wanyoike said: “I run for a cause and the pleasure I derive out of this doubles my enjoyment. So far we have raised $75 million, but our target is $100 million.”

The legendary Haile Gebrselassie congratulated Wanyoike after he completed the marathon on Friday. “It turned out to a very special run this year,” Wanyoike said. “ My biggest encouragement when I run here is the cheering crowd.”

Wanyoike is the brand ambassador for Standard Chartered’s ‘Seeing is Believing’ campaign that is aimed at tackling avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

For every dollar that Wanyoike gets as a donation, the bank matches it with a dollar, thereby doubling the donated amount.

“Being part of a venture that has raised so much money has been my life’s greatest achievement. I am delighted that nearly three million people have already been operated with the money generated. It is gratifying that I am able to give blind people an opportunity to walk, go to school or do certain things that they would have liked to do but never thought they could ever do it.”

Wanyoike lost 95 per cent of his sight after a stroke in 1995.

“I never thought I would ever be able to run or walk again. I had gone to bed like any normal person and woke up to find myself in darkness,” he said.

Wanyoike refused to give up. In 2000, he participated in the Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and won a gold medal.

He has run the marathon in Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Lebanon, New Jersey, Nairobi and China.

“I have been able to run again only due to the support of well-wishers so I decided to help other blind people. Standard Chartered approached me and I ran for the first time in the Dubai Marathon in 2003. I haven’t looked back,” he said. “For me it’s not about the timing or where I finish in the marathon. I am now looking forward to next year. In the process, I have once again helped to spread the message that 80 per cent of visual impairment is preventable or treatable. My next event is the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.