Blind man heads for world stage (From Witney Gazette)

Blind man heads for world stage

6:52am Saturday 4th August 2007 in Witney By Emma-Kate Lidbury

A BLIND man is hoping to make sporting history by becoming the first disabled athlete to represent Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championships.

But there is another obstacle preventing Graham Kiff from realising his dream - money.

Mr Kiff, 39, from Gordon Way, Witney, who is registered blind, would like to compete in the AWAD (athlete with a disability) category at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, on Sunday, September 2.

The British Triathlon Federation (BTF) has assured him of a place on the GB AWAD team, but he needs cash to pay for himself and his guide, Dennis Murphy, also from Witney, to take part.

He said: "Triathlon has become a big part of my life. I've been training six days a week since April, and so making it to the World Championships is amazing.

"It will be an honour to become the first athlete to represent Britain in the AWAD category, so finding a sponsor to help Dennis and I out would be fantastic.

"I am fairly confident of a podium place as my times are very competitive with last year's winner."

Mr Kiff, who is married with four sons, aged two to 18, was diagnosed last year with retinitis pigmentosa, otherwise known as tunnel vision.

He said: "The central vision I do have left, although small, is quite good. Most of my training is done on the bike or on the treadmill in the gym at the Windrush Leisure Centre, in Witney, where staff have been really supportive of what I'm doing.

"I've also been doing a lot of training with Dennis there."

The pair, who are both members of the Oxford Tri Club, will have to complete the 1,500m swim course in Hamburg tethered together, and will then ride a tandem bike over the 40km course, before running the 10km run together.

Mr Kiff, who served in the RAF for 12 years, has already been given some support from charity St Dunstan's, which helps blind ex-servicemen and women.

It has agreed to pay his flight and accommodation expenses, but he still needs to find money for race kit, equipment, and race fees.

He said: "It would be nice to find a sponsor who could support me through the year, and possibly help me get to next year's World Championships in Vancouver."

He is in action this weekend at the London Triathlon, where gym instructors from the St Dunstan's charity will be accompanying him on the course.

Mr Kiff's long-term goal is to compete at the London 2012 Paralympics if the BTF is successful in introducing it as a demonstration sport.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Mr Kiff can e-mail grahamkiff@btinternet.com, or call 07789 386814.