POLICE officers and staff are set to saddle up to raise money in memory of a chef who lost his brave fight against a brain tumour and kidney disease.

The team, who work at Colne and Barnoldswick police stations, are set to cycle 135 miles to raise money for BK’s Heroes.

The charity was set up by 27-year-old Ben King who succumbed to an inoperable brain tumour earlier this year and had also battled kidney disease since childhood.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Mr King, from Reedley, refused to let a cancerous growth the size of an apple get the better of him and his inspirational example saw charity BK’s Heroes established, to campaign for greater awareness for brain and kidney disease.

The bike ride has been organised by PCSO Mark Hyde, who worked with Mr King’s mum Fiona during her time as a response officer and is also friends with his dad Dave who worked as a police dog handler.

PCSO Hyde, who knew Mr King from a child, said the team are doing the charity challenge to keep his memory alive and to raise awayness of his charity.

The 59-year-old said: “Ben King was an inspirational young man, who at the time he set up the charity BK’s Heroes, was suffering from kidney failure, brain tumours and was undergoing treatment for his illness.

“Ben had many setbacks in his life but always overcame them and bounced back like a true super hero.

“Sadly Ben died earlier this year but his parents, Fiona and Dave and his brother Dan and his sister-in-law Stacey have vowed to keep Ben’s dream alive.”

Joining PCSO Hyde for the ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland, which takes place over two days from Sunday, August 21, to Monday, August22, will be PCSO Neil Wallin, PCSO Nicola Sparks, PC Carl Nevison and police staff member Paula Cullen.

PCSO Hyde said they had been fitting in training around work for the last six months and they are using their own annual leave and rest days to complete the ride.

The team are aiming to raise £1,000 for the charity through collecting sponsorship money.

To donate visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mark-HydeC2C and for more information visit BK’s Heroes on Facebook.