A fundraising group set up in a young woman’s memory has had a major breakthrough.

The Snowflake Foundation - For The Love of Zoë - hs raised enough money in its first year to apply to the Charity Commission for Registered Charity status.

It raised £6,427.90, passing the minimum £5,000 annual turnover needed, and the new status would give it more prestige and the potential to attract more donations.

Chairman Andrew Martyn said: “We are trying to get the status of becoming a proper charity rather than an informal one.”

The group was founded in December 2014 in memory of Zoë Martyn, Mr Martyn’s wife, who died of a rare form of bone cancer.

Zoë’s mother Lisa Bishop, who is Foundation secretary, said: “Due to so much support from local people at events we have now reached the required amount to apply for charity status and that all important registration number.

“Local people have been so amazingly kind and incredibly supportive of the charity and Zoë was well known and loved by so many.

“Zoe was a very brave and determined young lady and we are so proud of her.”

The target was smashed between the January of 2015 and 2016 and the application has already been made.

Mrs Martyn, 23, of Valley Road, River, died on September 12, 2014, from chordoma cancer, which affects the bones at the base of the skull and spine. There is only one case per million people a year.

Three months later the family set up the Snowflake Foundation to aid three charities and causes.

Two are Chordoma UK to find research to find a cure for this illness and Pilgrims Hospices whose Canterbury base cared for Mrs Martyn.

The third cause is to help underprivileged young adults pursue a career in performing arts as Mrs Martyn had aspirations to become a dance teacher.

Fundraising events have been held ever since and in the last few weeks the charity has made three cheque presentations.

A total £1,200 was recently presented to the Pilgrims Hospices along with another £1,200 to the research team at University College London where work is under way to find a cure for chordoma.

Another £1,200 has been ring fenced for any local theatre and dance group that wants to apply for funds to help with costs such as workshops.