As hundreds lined the streets on Saturday to mourn legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, more than 50 guests in need sat down to a meal served in his name, it has emerged.
The Hawking family donated money to provide an Easter weekend meal for the hungry and lonely in the city of Cambridge, U.K.
The event was described as a "gift from Stephen."
Alex Collis from FoodCycle told the BBC that the Hawking family's gesture helped the charity provide food and decorations for the meal. "They wanted to do something to support people going through a tough time," she said. "It was a really lovely gesture.... and very kind of them to think of FoodCycle."
Guests cheered the late professor before enjoying the Easter treats, she said.
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FoodCycle prepares meals every week at a church in the city center, using fresh food that would otherwise be thrown away.
Hawking's funeral took place on the same day at nearby Great St Mary's Church. Hawking died on March 14 at the age of 76. Numerous famous faces attended the funeral, including actor Eddie Redmayne—who played Hawking in the 2014 biopic The Theory of Everything—and fellow academic Sir Martin Rees.
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The Hawking family "wanted to do something that supported the local community on the day of his funeral," a post on the charity's Instagram page read.
FoodCycle has been "overwhelmed" by the "amazing response" to the Easter meal, the charity stated.
Hawking's ashes are to be buried at Westminster Abbey later this year, near the graves of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The burial will take place during a service of thanksgiving for the late professor.
"It is entirely fitting that the remains of Professor Stephen Hawking are to be buried in the Abbey, near those of distinguished fellow scientists," John Hall, the Dean of Westminster, said in a statement.
