A GIRL of 11 is thrilled at having spread awareness for people with coeliac disease after an awareness video she made was viewed thousands of times on Facebook.
Gracie Hughes wanted to help educate the general public after being left disappointed at the lack of gluten-free food when she and her family visited a popular theme park.
Mum Kelly Watton, a mobile hairdresser from Droitwich, shared her daughter’s video on her profile two and a half weeks ago and it has been viewed more than 8,000 times to date.
She said: “Gracie was diagnosed when she was two years old and when we went to the theme park last year she couldn’t find anything that was suitable for her to eat.
“It was a great day and we take a picnic anyway but Gracie couldn’t quite get her head round a big company like that not being able to do anything for a coeliac.
“She’s also at an age where she’s going round her friends’ houses and is having to explain that little bit more about the cross-contamination and everything else.
“She decided to make a video around that to put on Facebook to put it all in one place and within two weeks it had seven thousand views.
“Gracie is loving the reaction, bless her, and that it’s having the impact she hoped it would have.”
Gracie Hughes has learnt to live a full life with coeliac disease (Image: Kelly Watton)
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when the person eats gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
There is no cure, but following a healthy diet free from the protein is recommended by the NHS to help alleviate the symptoms and the long-term complications of the condition.
Living with coeliac disease
Gracie said: “It’s hard living with coeliac disease, because I have to have different foods to everyone else and all of my friends.
“I feel excited about the video because more people can find out about it.
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“I hope more people will understand the condition and more places will sell gluten-free food.”
The family has chosen not to name the theme park where they are regular visitors.
Gracie’s video won praise from Coeliac UK’s chief executive, Hilary Croft, who told the BBC that she was “impressed” with the schoolgirl for spreading awareness.
The charity says that one in 100 people have the condition, but only 36% are diagnosed.
