Cornwall's Surf Action charity in lottery awards final

Surf Action provides therapeutic sessions around the Cornish coast for military personnel

A Cornish charity which uses surfing to help injured armed service personnel has reached the final of the National Lottery Awards.

Surf Action believes surfing helps the wounded regain their confidence and boost their self esteem.

If successful Surf Action would win a £2,000 prize.

Surf Action is Cornwall's only finalist competing in the annual search to find the UK's favourite lottery-funded projects and voting begins on Friday.

It has been running since October 2009 and has already helped 150 injured soldiers.

The charity, which is based at St Buryan, in Penzance, has previously received £49,629 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Rich Emerson, from Surf Action, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have made it to the final.

"It's great to have the opportunity to show everyone who has ever played the lottery the real difference their money has made to our project.

"Anything is possible and surfing clearly has benefits to rehabilitation in terms of balance and mental strength."

Mr Emerson said if the surf group won the prize money it would purchase more surfboards to continue its work.

Surf Action is in the "best health project" category of the awards.

Public voting takes place from 2 September till 26 September.