RENAL Unit patient and street busker Robert Kennedy's legacy lives on with the latest donation of $862 from a little tips tin with a big responsibility.

Rhonda Theodosis, who owns the Groceries & More Convenience store on Margaret St has kept the tips tin going in the past four years since Robert passed away from Renal failure.

"It was his last wish to help people going through a similar situation by donating his busking tin to the shop for tips, to raise funds for the Toowoomba Hospital's Renal Unit where he received treatment," Ms Theodosis said.

The tin wore out over time, so Robert's mother made a new box, which has pride of place at the front counter and has Rob's own slogan on the front: 'When you leave a tip in this box we will bless your cotton socks!'

Toowoomba Hospital's Renal Unit Nurse Liz Coroneos remembers Rob as a likeable character.

"He loved his busking and always shared a joke with the staff when he came into the unit," she said.

Mrs Coroneos said that kidney disease and the need for dialysis at the Renal Unit can affect people of all ages.

"There's a stereotype that Renal patients are all old people, when in actual fact there are many reasons why someone experiences Renal failure, and there are patients from all age groups," she said.

Many of the patients are able to use home dialysis, which can improve their quality of life.

"Rob was able to use the home dialysis system for quite a while, so there are plans to put the money towards helping the patients who use this form of treatment," Mrs Coroneos said.

Conventional home dialysis means that the patient and family are trained to use a dialysis machine at home to clear wastes and extra fluid from the blood.

This usually takes place three times every week and takes at least three hours each time.

There is significant training involved for both patient and their carer or family.

Mrs Theodosis encourages everyone to consider donating their tips jars to a worthy cause.

"In my shop, people just pop their loose change into the box and it soon adds up," she said.

"Just imagine if all the tip jars in Toowoomba were donated to the Renal Unit, how much we could raise to help the staff and patients."