Students at St Mary’s College in Crosby recently put the kettle on in a bid to raise cash for charity.  

Sixth formers served tea, coffee and a range of delicious cakes and biscuits to teachers and other staff to support a Crosby couple’s efforts to help people with coeliac disease.   

Liz Shaw - a technician at the school who suffers from the condition herself - and her fiance Joseph Viney are raising funds to increase awareness of this food allergy which is an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.   

The disease can be tackled very successfully by excluding gluten from the diet. However, if left untreated it can led to serious health problems including infertility, osteoporosis and even cancer.   

Later this year Liz and Joe will be trekking through the Sahara Desert to try and raise £4,000 to help the charity Coeliac UK. 

The £65 raised by selling the cakes and biscuits donated by pupils and staff at the St Mary’s coffee morning will go towards this total. 

Liz Shaw commented: “Raising awareness of coeliac disease is very important as many people may have it without even realising it. 

“Events like the desert trek are an opportunity to reach as many people as possible, and to share important information about the condition while raising money to help fund vital research.” 

Anyone wishing to make a donation towards the couple’s fundraising campaign can do so online at www.justgiving.com/lizandjoetrek.