College leaders touched by the inspirational story of a young woman's battle with cancer are hoping to raise thousands of pounds in her memory.

Emily Mackay died on her 20th birthday in 2016 - three years after she was diagnosed - and left an extraordinary legacy.

Despite her diagnosis, the trainee chef continued with her professional cookery studies at East Kent College's Broadstairs campus and was a prolific fundraiser, becoming an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Now, college principal Graham Razey and three other senior executives will support the same charity by taking on next year's London Marathon.

Mr Razey - who raised £9,000 for the Trust last year after completing the marathon alone - will this year be joined by colleagues, who are already pounding the streets in preparation for the 26-mile challenge.

“Emily was a truly amazing young lady," Mr Razey said. "It’s rare that you’d find someone my age who has genuinely been inspired by a teenager, but she was absolutely one of a kind.

"The strength she had, even when fighting her cancer, was just exceptional.

"Most people would have given up, but she just kept going, coming into college and living her life the way she wanted to. She was always thinking of her future, pushing herself and doing some incredible things.

"I wanted to run the marathon again to keep Emily’s legacy alive, and continue the work she started to support the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Emily, who received the college’s Principal’s Award for Excellence in 2015, lived in Ladyfields, Broomfield, and was a former pupil of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham.

In 2013, she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancerosteosarcoma, which affects just 150 people a year.

Doctors initially thought she had strained a muscle playing for the Canterbury Academy of Netball, but scans would later reveal cancer in her thigh bone, which was largely removed and replaced with titanium.

Mr Razey said after her death: "The whole college community has been truly saddened by the loss of this bright, bubbly, happy and inspirational young woman.

“Emily was genuinely heroic in her fight against this terrible disease, never relenting, and continuing to play an extraordinary role at the college.

“It is nothing more than cruel and unfair that Emily has been taken from her family and friends, and from those who loved her within this college.”

Mr Razey will take on the marathon this year with the college's executive director for strategy and partnerships, Paul Sayers, the director of EKC WorkHigher, Jonathan Smith, and the head of corporate affairs. Sharon Hollingsworth.

They are looking to beat last year’s fundraising target and are putting on a charity meal at the college’s Broadstairs hotel, The Yarrow.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Tables of 10 are £1,000 and include a five-course meal with wine. Record-breaking adventurer Tori James will give a talk after dinner.

To sponsor the team visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/TeamEmily5