A SINGING group which has become a legacy of an inspirational young man, is now celebrating its new charity status

Maralyn Adey, who founded Sing From The Heart, was heartbroken at losing 30-year-old Kristian, who had Down Syndrome as well as heart and lung defects, but along with husband Alvin she was determined to keep his memory alive and found music a fitting tribute.

Kristian died suddenly on May 27 last year, minutes after playing air guitar to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody - one of his rock favourites.

It was Kristian's love of singing that prompted his mum, of Wrose Road, Shipley, to start Sing From The Heart which rehearses regularly and performs in public.

The group's next gig will be at Disability Rocks held on Saturday at Nell Bank, Ilkley.

The group was one of Kristian's great passions in life, said his mum. The group managed to fundraise £5,000 to successfully apply for charity status and is just waiting to get its charity number.

Sing From The Heart is also looking for more sponsors to help its buy equipment including a CD duplicator and laptop. It has been meeting at Disability Advice in Shipley but is soon to move into a new home in the Bradford area.

Mrs Adey said: "We're also still looking for a patron now that we're a charity.

"We are going from strength-to-strength and it has become Kristian's legacy."

Kristian also had a passion for acting and had various TV roles, including Channel 4’s Shameless, he loved being on stage and for a time enjoyed interviewing, editing and presenting programmes at BCB in the city.

Mrs Adey said: "This year's Disability Rocks will be the first we have done without him.

"He died just before last year's and we just couldn't do it -it was far too soon. But we will be there at the end of this month singing our hearts out and I'm sure his spirit will be on stage with us."

She added: "We don't get any funding we have to raise it all ourselves. We got help with the £5,000 because some of it came to us from a mental health charity that was disbanding.

"We need to get more money because it can get expensive trying to arrange transport and taxis to get everyone to performances. There's 14 in the group now. Any help would be appreciated."

Sing From The Heart is also looking for more opportunities to perform, anyone wanting to get in touch can either call Mrs Adey on 07770 882404 or email singfromtheheartuk@outlook.com