WEST Somerset Community College student Alicia Buxton-Smith has boosted fundraising efforts for a Minehead teenager suffering a debilitating disease by launching a public get well message.

Alicia came up with the idea of selling wristbands to help Levi Wooten-Hunt, who has been in hospital since being diagnosed with a rare form of ulcerative colitis last October.

As recently reported in the Free Press, Levi, who celebrated her 19th birthday earlier this month, is currently being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - 150 miles from home.

Local people, businesses and schools have already raised hundreds of pounds to help make her life easier, providing her with an iPad and mobile phone credit, covering television costs and helping to fund travel costs of visiting family and friends.

Alicia, who is a friend of Levi's younger sister Milly, contacted fundraising campaign organiser Nikki Bowditch a few weeks ago to see how she could help.

"She came up with the idea of selling personalised wristbands, with the message 'xxxxGet Well Soon Levixxxx' which is the name of the Facebook page we set up," said Nikki.

"We managed to source a supplier who gave us some free wristbands as well - 300 in all."

The wristbands arrived last Tuesday and by the end of the day Alicia, helped by friend Beth Sylvester, had sold nearly 150 in the community college.

And a further 100 were snapped up in the town the following day.

"We have now ordered another 300 as people are still requesting them," said Nikki.

"Alicia came up with a great idea and she and Beth have been really enthusiastic about the fundraising."

Levi, meanwhile, is slowly beginning to show signs of improvement, although she is still unable to walk and has to be fed intravenously.

"There is still a long road ahead before the doctors think she will be stable enough to consider moving closer to home," said Nikki.

"The cost of travelling back and forth to Oxford is huge and Levi's family are doing the journey three to four times a week.

"The support from the community has been overwhelming and Levi's family want to say thank you to every single person who has given their love, as well as pennies.

"They have been blown away by the sheer amount of messages and financial help people have given them at such an awful time."

Other fundraising efforts are continuing with Minehead's Morrisons supermarket, where Levi worked part-time whilst also studying child care, running a bag packing service at each of its tills on July 5 and 6.

Wristbands will also be on sale and collection boxes in the store.

Anyone willing to help with the bag packing should contact Nikki on 07403609370 or via the Facebook page xxxxGet Well Soon Levixxxx.

Alicia on the left and friend Beth are pictured with the wristbands for Levi.