A CHARITY set up by a double transplant patient to "repay his debt" to society has helped 1085 people in seven years.

Russell Macmillan, from Newton Mearns, launched ER Good Causes after his life-saving surgery in 2007 because he wanted to give something back and repay the NHS after receiving a new kidney and pancreas, which also cured him of Type 1 Diabetes.

He found out the transplant surgery cost £70,000 and set a target of raising £100,000 to help others.

He has now more than tripled the cost of the surgery, raising £181,921 for good causes through donations for the charity.

Among those helped over the years has been a young teenager who had to move in with a widowed grandparents due to severe alcohol misuse by parents, who was given cash for new clothes.

Russell, 48, was diagnosed with Type 1 ­diabetes when he was eight.

By 22 he was registered blind, after developing diabetic retinopathy in his late teens. He later developed kidney disease which left him with only 10% function.

He was placed on the transplant list and a match was found.

Russell is a firm backer of the Evening Times' Opt for Life campaign, which aims to persuade the Scottish Government to switch to an opt-out transplant system to help drive up donor numbers.

He said: "It was literally like having a death sentence lifted. My transplant saved my life and my diabetes was completely cured. I wanted to give something back.

"When we started we had no idea we would do as well as this. There is no better feeling that helping your neighbour."

In a major boost for the charity, the Avenue Shopping Centre in Newton Mearns has just announced that it will be supporting ER Good Causes as its nominated charity this year.

The link up means that all funds raised from charity events held within The Avenue throughout 2014 will be donated to the charity to help with running costs, meaning that the charity has devote more cash to good causes.

Michelle McCabe, centre manager at The Avenue, said: "East Renfrewshire Good Causes is the perfect match as our charity partner."

For more details, ­visit www.ergood causes.co.uk