THE Son-Rise Cup for Autism Football Festival received a big boost this week after being granted £1,800 by Devon County Council.

The money was awarded to the ever growing football event which started in 2006 to help a four-year-old severely autistic boy's therapy — the Son-Rise Programme of America.

Paul Lewis, now aged nine and who attends St Peter's School in Tavistock, has funds to work on the American therapy for four years thanks to the generous support of the Tavistock people, local businesses and the rural community.

Paul is now just one of many special needs children in this area who are members of Tavistock Youth Café Plus and the Tavistock Specials football team.

The sixth Son-Rise Cup Devon FA event will help fund these two groups and support the Tavistock Youth Cafe in their new building work.

The event's founder, and Paul's dad, Allen Lewis, told the Times: 'Since we opened up our TYCP Group in 2008 and the disability football squad in February 2009, we have seen children, young adults and their families' lives change for the better!'

Allen said strong friendships had been formed all round — and it was due to the hard work put in by Cathy Sharp, Tracy Barton, Jan Gasper and many other parents and carers that TYCP was such a success.

'As far as the football teams are concerned there are no boundaries and with our coaches Will and Tom Reed, Rachel Kelly, Robyn Hammond Wayne Downing and Bobby Upham, we are in really good hands,' said Allen.

'I personally would like to thank county and borough councillor Debo Sellis for taking the time to listen to me, and for realising the importance to this community of the voluntary work by parent led groups to Tavistock people.

'I must say a huge thank you to the fantastic businesses who support me.

'I have made so many friends and it would be unfair to try and name them because the list would fill this newspaper.'

The Son-Rise Cup Festival is on the weekend of May 21 and 22, held at the Crowndale pitches and Tavistock Community FC. For more details go to http://www.sonrisecup.co.uk">www.sonrisecup.co.uk