BUS FOR LOCAL HERO BLIND DAVE HEELEY

Local marathon man ‘Blind’ Dave Heeley and his Olympic Torch today launched a bus named in his honour by National Express West Midlands.

Staff at National Express West Midlands Pensnett garage named a bus after Blind Dave to honour his amazing achievements for local charities including his epic seven marathons in seven days across seven continents. Dave was recently torchbearer on the Cobridge leg of the relay. When told of the naming Dave thought it was a practical joke and did not believe it until the bus operator contacted him about launching the vehicle.Dave has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities and also visits local schools and businesses as a motivational speaker.

Drivers at the Pensnett garage were given a vote to name 10 of the garages 21 new buses. Drivers also picked local heroes such as Busby Babe Duncan Edwards and a MI6 agent known as the British Schindler Frank Foley. Blind Dave Heeley said:

“I am very proud and privileged to have been given this honour. I am so touched that the drivers at the National Express West Midlands Pensnett garage thought of me when asked to name their new buses. I want to thank them for doing this – I can’t wait to bring the kids down during the summer holiday to ride a bus named after their Dad!”

The bus will carry thousands of passengers on the 120 service between Dudley and Birmingham via Oldbury everyday. Peter Coates, Managing Director, National Express West Midlands said: “Dave is an exceptional man whose achievements for charities are breathtaking. I hope that people will share our pride as they board our brand new bus named in his honour.”