Four friends vow to raise thousands as a tribute to a sick chum.

Jul 30 2010 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

A CARING quartet who are aiming to coin in a whopping £30,000 for charity have told how a friend’s brave battle with kidney disease is providing them with inspiration.

Campbell McGregor, Scott Herne, James Sargent and Scott Davis, who all hail from Renfrewshire, are tackling a series of fundraising challenges in aid of Kidney Research UK.

Their charity drive will culminate in a sponsored trek along the Great Wall of China in May next year.

And, every step of the way, they’ll be thinking about their friend Bobby Singh, who has had to undergo kidney dialysis three times a week for the past six years.

Paisley man Campbell, 30, who works as a sales executive for builders’ merchants Jewson, said: “It all really stems from our buddy Bobby.

“I met him about seven years ago but it was only quite recently that he told me about how he’d had an unsuccessful kidney operation and almost lost his life.

“Then he showed me his scars, which run from his chest to his toes, and explained how he had to undergo dialysis three times a week.

“I decided it would be a great idea to help people who are in a similar position to Bobby and I managed to rope three of my other friends into it as well.”

Scott Herne, from Paisley, and James, from Renfrew, work alongside Campbell at the Jewsons depot in Govan, while Scott Davis, who hails from Renfrew, works as a fireman.

The four pals have already managed to raise more than £6,000 for Kidney Research UK by staging a variety of fundraising events.

And they are looking forward to their adventure in China next year.

Scott Herne, a 29-year-old sales manager, said: “None of us have ever been that far from home before and it is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

“We are going to take the old route along the wall and will be travelling for between 13 and 15 miles each day, which will mean walking for an average of seven hours a day.

“We’ll be staying in old farmhouses along the way and, at the end of the trip, we will have to zip-slide across a river to reach the finish line.”

James, 30, added: “Bobby is a lovely guy. Hopefully, we can reach our fundraising target and do him proud.”

The caring quartet have received support from a number of organisations, including the Pro-life Fitness Centre, in Paisley, and they know that every penny they raise will be put to good use.

Scott Davis, 30, said: “The more cash we can raise, the better.

“The money will be directly funnelled into the renal unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and a similar unit at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill.

“Apart from when I was little, I have never raised money for charity before but I have been amazed at how much people are willing to give when it is for a good cause.

“So far, we have raised £6,000 after just a few events and we’re determined to keep going.”

If you would like to help the lads reach their total, you can donate online at www.kidneyresearchukevents.org/team-ev0lution