Generous pub-goers have raised more than £1,000 to help fund surf therapy for a boy who had a brain tumour.

The Driftwood Spars brewpub in St Agnes has donated £1,500 – a year’s worth of cash raised by the community – to surf therapy charity The Wave Project in order to fund a place for eight-year-old Seb Crosby-Moore.

Thanks to an organisation called Big Give Campaign the money will be doubled, helping others follow in Seb’s footsteps.

The pub, in Trevaunance Cove, and Seb’s family came together thanks to social prescribing service Community Connect, which aims to encourage and improve well-being by connecting people with their communities, nurturing mental and physical health, and reducing isolation.

Seb, who lives in St Agnes parish with his family, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of three and underwent extensive and successful surgery, plus treatment.

However, because of his health challenges and extended periods in hospital, Seb is behind in physical ability and confidence in comparison with his peers.

Like his mother Abby, who is a marine biologist, Seb loves the water, but spending time in the sea is difficult.

Abby explained: “Seb’s health challenges have created a barrier between him and the sea, and subsequently our whole family, throughout his childhood.

“As his friends and classmates become more confident in and around the water, Seb missed out on one of the major benefits of a childhood spent on the Cornish coast.”

The money raised will cover the referral fee for Seb and others to join The Wave Project, a surf therapy programme for young people which aims to change lives through surfing.

Fred Andrews, Newquay project coordinator for The Wave Project, said: “Seb is due to start with us next spring, and we’re already looking forward to working with Community Connect to identify other children in the St Agnes area who could benefit from participating in the project.

“As a charity, our aim is to give as many young people as possible access to the therapeutic benefits of surfing.”

Abby added: “We as a family are very grateful for the community spirit which has brought this about.”

Each year The Driftwood Spars raises money for a different cause through various events including quiz nights, raffles and an unwanted Christmas gift exchange; on top of this, 10p from every pint sold of the pub’s own ‘Spars’ beer goes into the fund-raising pot.

Nikki Kelly, from Community Connect, said: “Social prescribing is all about taking a holistic view of people’s health and finding non-medical treatments to improve physical and mental wellbeing. Surf therapy is a great example.”