Blind Dave builds on support gruelling 150 mile Sahara charity run

The Black Country marathon man received the donation from the West Brom Building Society in aid of his appeal for the Albion Foundation.

Dave plans to become the first blind person to tackle the gruelling 150 mile, six day Marathon Des Sables race across the Sahara in April.

He wants to raise £30,000 for the Albion Foundation, which works with children and young people with disabilities or disadvantages.

It will mark the climax of a tri-challenge the well known Baggies fan will take on in the coming weeks.

On the first leg, Dave will be joined by club legend Brendon Batson, and Great Britain Blind Football Paralympian Darren Harris for a charity cycle ride.

They will ride 152 miles over three days from Southampton's St Mary's Stadium to The Hawthorns in time for the side's Premier League clash on February 28.

Then the baton is handed over to the blind football team who will walk to every school in Sandwell.

Finally, Mr Heeley will then take the baton to the Sahara from April 3 to 13 in an attempt to become the first blind person to complete the equivalent of five-and-a-half marathons.

He will be accompanied by friends Tony Ellis and Rosemary Rhodes.

"I'd like to thank the society for its support," said Dave, aged 57, of Oak Road, West Bromwich,

"I don't underestimate the test I will face in the Sahara and I am training hard for the event.

"The Albion Foundation does fantastic work in helping disabled people to become involved in sport, in particular blind football, so I'm keen to raise as much as I can."

Building society spokesman, Jim King, added: "Dave is an inspirational figure and we are proud to count him as a West Brom member."

The West Brom's donation was made through the Mercian Community Trust, a partnership between the Society and the Diocese of Lichfield to support community groups and charitable causes in the region.