Determined teenager Emily Plant has continued her work to raise money and awareness for the charity Coeliac UK — collecting more than £1,000 through a special event in February.

Sixteen-year-old Emily — the current Miss Mansfield Outstanding Teen — travelled around local businesses and venues on 20th February, selling homemade cakes for the charity and collecting £1,030.

Acorn Signs, 100Vans.com, Creative Steelwork, DM Furnishings, Elizabeth OrridgePhotography, Hardwick Motor Company / Fix Auto Sutton/ Tool Academy/ADAS, Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, Happy Feet Dance Studios, The Hair & Beauty Lounge, Kangaroo Teacher Led Childcare, Mansfield Mobility Centre / Warsop Mobility Centre, Mansfield Town FC, Mansfield Rugby Club, My Travel Guys, Mansfield, Ashfield and Warsop News Journal, Oakham Suite, Premier Security 24/7, Quarry Lane Boxing Club, Quick Kits/ Laser / Pemier Powder Coating, Riley & Co, Ron Brooks Mansfield, Rima-Faz Indian Restaurant, Sainsbury’s Mansfield, Stopford Associates, Superstar Speakers, The Tea House Carr Bank, The Towers, United Carpets Kirkby, United Carpets Mansfield, Ulyett Landscapes.

Emily, a student at the Brunts Academy, Mansfield, has already beaten a £3,000 fundraising target she set for herself.

The money will go towards the charity’s monthly magazine, phone apps, new gluten free food, research and support.

“This charity is important to me because I have coeliac disease and know how hard it can be to live with,” she explained.

“After two years of feeling constantly ill and having many hospital tests I was finally diagnosed with coeliac disease.

“Four years later I still battle with the disease everyday. Coeliac UK helps people like me live with coeliac disease. They campaign, research, raise awareness and support people with the condition.”

Coeliac disease causes many symptoms, including muscle wasting, poor appetite, lethargy, mood swings and emotional distress. It can also lead to osteoporosis, anaemia, gut cancer and many other complications.

Emily added: “Eating out is a big part of coeliac disease because you have to avoid so many foods, including bread, cake, biscuits and food containing gluten. This makes eating out very awkward.

“People think coeliac disease is an allergy but it’s not, it’s an auto-immune disease that affects one in 100 people in the UK — with approximately 500,000 yet to be diagnosed.

“Coeliac UK helps people like me live with coeliac disease. They campaign, research, raise awareness and support people with the condition.”

People can support Emily by donating at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmilyPlant

Emily is pictured with some of the team at the News Journal.