A CHEF who died of cancer aged 27 has left a ‘legacy of love’ after a group he set up was granted official charity status.

Ben King, from Reedley, dedicated a large proportion of his final months to setting up BK’s Heroes, which raises money for brain and kidney research and awareness.

In February, Ben, who had an inoperable brain tumour and had also battled kidney disease since childhood, lost his brave battle for life, devastating his family and friends.

But the former Nelson and Colne College catering student’s inspirational example means his fundraising work will now continue.

In fact BK’s Heroes, which has just been given official status, has already raised £30,000.

Fiona King, Ben’s mum, said: “Ben would have been delighted at this.

“Throughout his final months he was determined that he would help research and awareness of the two conditions.

“There was a lot of paperwork to fill in to become registered and we were initially told it could take eight weeks for a response but we were told within 24 hours that we’d been successful.

“I’m sure his drive and passion has been transferred to the dozens of people who have helped BK’s Heroes and the wonderful fundraising efforts they have taken part in.

“There was a young woman who did both the Paris and London marathons, several more ran the Manchester Marathon in his honour and there’s been too many more to mention who have helped.”

Ben suffered from kidney disease from the age of five and underwent a transplant donated from his dad when he was 17.

In 2014, he discovered he had developed an inoperable brain tumour and shortly after his new kidney began to fail.

Because of his illness, he could not undergo chemotherapy or have another kidney transplant.

Fiona added that the charity was about to distribute £10,000 each to the two causes, which are both in the North West.

She said: “The money will go to the Kidneys For Life group based in Manchester where Ben had his kidney transplant as a 17-year-old and Brain Cancer Research at UCLan in Preston, who are doing really exciting work in the field.

“We’re pleased to be helping these causes, which are both close to home.

“We are going to carry on our appeal. He made us promise him that before he passed away.”

Ben’s dad Dave and his elder brother Dan, 29, are the other trustees of BK’s Heroes, which was named after his initials and the words ‘brain’ and ‘kidney’.

Among the events planned for the future are a 14-mile walk from Fleetwood RNLI to St Annes RNLI that Fiona is undertaking next month with some of Ben’s friends.