A GROUP of friends have paid a touching tribute to their charity champion pal who sadly passed away earlier this year by launching a new fundraising initiative in his memory.

Loved ones of Greenock dad Danny Knox have banded together to set up the Danny Knox Foundation, a non-profit organisation which raises cash for worthy causes.

The team behind the foundation have already organised their first two events, a charity ball at Greenock Town Hall and a sponsored climb of Ben Nevis.

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Danny, who was just 39 when he died earlier this year after a battle with cancer, was an enthusiastic supporter of local good causes for many years.

Even after Danny’s passing, his generosity continued to benefit worthy charities, with a fundraising golf day he had helped organise raising over £20,000.

(Image: Tracy McQuillan Photography)

Paul Stinson, a close friend of Danny’s and one of those overseeing the foundation, told the Tele that raising cash for charity was the perfect way to pay tribute to the hugely popular café owner.

He said: “Danny did so much for charity over the years and was always looking to raise awareness and money for local charities as well as national charities and we just wanted to keep that going in his memory.

“We don’t have particular charities in mind to support, Danny was in the hospice so we would look to give them money every year, but there are lots of other charities who are needing help as well.

“Danny liked giving money to Children in Poverty Inverclyde and donated to them around Christmas, so we’d look to do something like that again this year.

“I don’t think anything other than good is going to come from the foundation, there are always pros to raising money for people who are in need.”

Danny’s pal Gary Loughran also arranged recently for a memorial bench to be installed at his beloved Gourock Golf Club’s 17th hole, overlooking much of Inverclyde and the River Clyde.

Gary said he and his friends were determined to keep Danny’s memory and his charitable spirit alive.

(Image: George Munro)(Image: George Munro)

He added: “Danny never really advertised what he was doing, he would just ask around and raise money for charities then give them a cheque from him and his friends.

“He would go and do charity events like golf days and balls, and he never really took recognition for that, so we wanted to give him that even though he’s now gone and make sure his legacy lives on.

“The golf day was the biggest success, it was a tremendous day and I think everyone who went said it was probably one of the best they’ve been to.

“The amount of money we raised from that blew everyone away and that was the stepping stone for us to get to where we are now with a charity ball coming up on September 21 and a Ben Nevis climb which will raise money too.

“Danny was a big football fan, a big Celtic fan and he loved to give back to local football teams so we’re sponsoring players at junior football teams to get the badge out there and we’re looking at sponsoring training gear for local teams and football strips.

“We need to say a thanks to John Hampsey as well, he did a fundraising iron man and trained for months then kindly donated half of what he raised to us.

“That will go towards helping us with sponsoring football teams, holding charities balls and raffles and things like that.

“Everyone in our group of friends who knew Danny wanted to grow this foundation.

“He always put everyone else’s interests before his own."

(Image: George Munro)

The Danny Knox Foundation’s Ben Nevis Climb will take place on August 17 and its charity ball is scheduled for September 21.

Anyone interested in attending or taking part in the events should email knoxygolfday@gmail.com or visit the foundation’s Facebook page.