We were introduced to The Wave Project in the spring of 2024. At the time, Finn was struggling severely with anxiety and his mental health. When we reached breaking point and were faced with long waiting lists for support, his headteacher referred him to The Wave Project to take part in their six-week Surf Therapy course.

An apprehensive, nervous boy arrived at West Sands Beach in St Andrews, where he was welcomed by the most open, supportive and positive group of people you could imagine. Week after week, Finn returned to the beach and was met by his mentor, Jack, who matched Finn’s endless energy wave after wave and wipe-out after wipe-out — no small task! We will forever be grateful to Jack for his patience and for the confidence he helped build within Finn.

Throughout the six weeks of surf therapy, the anxious, fizzing ball of energy inside Finn — which had seemed to be taking over his life — was calmed by the sea. We’re not entirely sure how it worked; all we knew was that he was the happiest and calmest we had seen him in a long time. The sea seemed to be where he belonged.

When the surf therapy programme came to an end, we were nervous about how we could keep his progress going. Thankfully, Surf Club stepped in. Led by a fantastic team leader and supported by countless volunteers, children from the therapy sessions could continue meeting up and surfing together. The friendships and confidence kept growing, and our boy began counting down the days until he could get back into the water.

None of this would have been possible without The Wave Project and their incredible volunteers. We want to give back to the charity that has changed our family’s life — and this is where you can help.

Finn and his dad will be taking on the MacTuff Kids Obstacle Course Race on 2nd May 2026. It’s a 3km challenge involving grassy hills, woodland trails and plenty of boggy obstacles along the way!

We would be incredibly grateful for any donation you’re able to make. Our goal is to raise £250 for The Wave Project so that many more children can experience the life-changing joy of Surf Therapy.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving — they’ll never sell them or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, your money goes directly to the charity, making it the most efficient way to support their work.

Thank you so much for your support.