Petarnella's Pistons are:  Marcos Petarnella, Lucy & Charles O'Donnell, Lu McGregor, Janie Jackson , Caroline P, Eric & Shona Wilkinson, Camilla Beckett, Marlon Gibson, Sarah Burke and we are busily training to take part in the Haslemere Bumpy Triathlon to raise money for Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere.  Our team leader is personal trainer Marcos Petarnella who has been providing us with much needed training sessions and enthusiasm considering we have a combined age of about 980!

Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere provides specialised services for people who have very severe physical disabilities, the sort that completely change someone’s life. One day a person may be leading an ordinary life with no reason to suppose that any change is imminent and the next day they may be unable to move at all, have lost the ability to communicate, even to be aware of their environment. The most common cause is brain injury whether because of an accident or illness that starves the brain of oxygen or a faulty blood vessel. 

The Hospital employs staff with knowledge, skills and experience to prevent patients' from deteriorating, keeping them free from pain and leaving no stone unturned in searching for things that will improve the chances of recovery and lead to a better quality of life. Although funded in respect of normal running costs by the NHS, Holy Cross goes beyond normal measures to challenge the limits to recovery. With funding support from the Friends, the Hospital never accepts that there is no more that can be done. Staff work with the patients, their families and friends to produce unexpected results. They explore new technology to offer new ways of understanding patients’ needs and constantly improve what can be offered. Donated money enables the Hospital to do this and the Friends support brings such benefits to every patient in the Hospital’s care. Find out more from the Hospital’s website www.holycross.org.uk