A pub is holding a charity event to help fund life-changing surgery for a 17-year-old girl.

The Royal Standard in Upwey is putting on a weekend of live music to raise funds for Laurna Ewart so she can have vital surgery on her pancreas.

The pub puts on a ‘Ju-Jam’ event every year to raise money for a good cause, and this year Liam Johnson and Jason House, the manager and owner of the pub respectively, decided to help her raise the £20,000 needed for the surgery she needs, plus travel expenses.

Laurna, who lives in Greenhill, Weymouth, was diagnosed three years ago with a rare genetic condition which has given her chronic pancreatitis, meaning that her pancreas has been badly damaged and continues to deteriorate.

This has made it very difficult for Laurna’s body to digest food and control her insulin levels.

Rebecca Ewart, her mum, said: “She is hospitalised quite frequently and she has attacks that I manage at home with morphine.”

The attacks are caused by severe chronic pain caused by the damage to her pancreas.

After several consultations at hospitals across the country, it has been agreed that Laurna should have a total pancreatectomy and islet auto cell transplantation.

This involves removing the pancreas and putting the remaining healthy islet cells from her pancreas, which help control her insulin levels, into her liver.

It is hoped the surgery, which is not currently available on the NHS, will greatly reduce her chronic pain and allow her body to better manage her insulin levels.

Rebecca said: “It will be life-changing. We are hoping that it will completely stop her attacks.”

Laurna’s mum hopes the Ju-Jam event will raise a couple of thousands towards the cost of the surgery, though she said that Liam expects more.

It takes place on Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30, and will feature The Mad Hatters, The Leggomen, Blazin’ Strings and Toby de Kretser.

There will also be a barbecue, an auction, a raffle, free ice cream for kids and the Vinyl Revival disco on the Saturday evening.

Rebecca said she was very grateful to The Royal Standard for putting on the weekend for her daughter.

She said: “I cannot thank them enough really.”

She added she was very thankful to those who have donated auction and raffle prizes.

Anyone who wishes to donate money towards Laurna’s surgery can do so by going to the 4 Laurna page at www.gofundme.com