THE funeral for a former British martial arts champion will take place at Blackburn Cathedral.

Family and friends will gather at the cathedral for the service of Tarro ‘Taz’ Grogan, who died after he was stabbed twice in Blackburn earlier this month.

Mr Grogan, 29, was stabbed in Peridot Close on Sunday, October 14 and paramedics were called shortly after 9.30am.

The service will start at 1.30pm on Monday, November 5, and mourners will move on to Pleasington Cemetery at 2.30pm.

A wake will take place at the Farthings pub in Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn, when the service ends at the cemetery.

Dozens of people who knew Mr Grogan, a former student at Witton Park High School, released balloons in Peridot Close in his memory.

On a Facebook post, Cherish Duckworth, Mr Grogan’s sister, said: “All are welcome and we want everyone to celebrate Taz’s life respectfully.

“I’d like to thank everyone who came to Taz’s balloon release.

“What a good turnout we had, I appreciate everyone being there.”

For almost a decade Mr Grogan, who worked as a labourer, trained at mixed martial arts gym, Blackburn Predators, in Chadwick Street, and during that time he even won a British title.

A GoFundMe page, set up by Mr Grogan’s sister, and has raised more than £5,600 with one donor pledging £1,000.

All money raised will be split and put into separate savings accounts for his daughters Brooke and Aroura, and will be given to them when they are 18.

The first of a few fundraising events planned, organised by Mr Grogan’s good friend Carl Hill, is a bounce night at the Cellar Bar, Blackburn, from 9pm to 6am on November 9. The event will also be a celebration of Mr Grogan’s 30th birthday, which would have been on November 11. Admission is £10 at the door and is for over-18s only.

All DJs have paid to perform on the night. Those performing on the night include, Yannis G, Cheeze, Bon Lee, Daz Birchall, Nicki B, Philbin, Ari, Varey, Alex R, Serious Soundz, Phil Mac, Matt C, Baker, Carl Hill and Rome.

There will also be a mixed martial arts night next month, organised by Rob Freedman from Blackburn Predators, the MMA club Mr Grogan was a member of. The date and venue are still to be confirmed.

To donate to the fundraising page, visit gofundme.com and search for Cherish Duckworth.