Gordon Ramsay donated £37,000 to cancer treatment for Masterchef Junior’s Ben Watkins, reports say

‘Masterchef Junior’ contestant died this week, aged 14

Gordon Ramsay reportedly donated $50,000 (£37,000) to help fund treatment for MasterChef Junior contestant Ben Watkins, who has died aged 14.

Watkins, who appeared in season six of the US competition, died on Monday (16 November) after a year-and-a-half long cancer battle.

Ramsay, who served as a judge on the TV show, led tributes to the former contestant, but according to sources close to the situation also made a generous donation towards his treatment earlier this year.

TMZ reports that the Hell’s Kitchen star “quietly” gave $50,000 to help cover Watkins’s medical costs in August.

The Independent has contacted Ramsay’s representatives for comment.

Watkins suffered from an extremely rare type of cancer called angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, which is only known to have affected six people.

A GoFundMe was set up by his grandmother to raise money for his treatment and has now been turned into a memorial fund, with more than $200,000 (£150,000) donated.

Paying tribute to Watkins earlier this week, Ramsay wrote on Twitter: "Your young life had so many tough turns but you always persevered. Sending all the love to Ben Watkins’ family with this terrible loss Gx.”