A crew of intrepid paddlers from Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere is taking part in a Dragon Boat race to raise money for new equipment.

The team includes physiotherapists, health care assistants, nursing staff and team members from human resources, maintenance and catering. Friends and relatives of patients have also volunteered to take part.

The paddlers aim to raise £1,000 which will go towards the cost of a new poolside hoist. The hydrotherapy pool plays an important role in the rehabilitation of both inpatients and outpatients. A reliable hoist is needed so that patients who are not able to use the steps can be safely transferred in and out of the pool.

Chris Hinton, Interim Chief Executive at Holy Cross Hospital says: “Earlier this year, the Friends of Holy Cross launched a campaign to raise around £30,000 to replace the current poolside hoist which has become too expensive to repair.

“Over the years we have seen some novel fundraising activities being held for Holy Cross, but this is the first time anybody has participated in a Dragon Boat race. The idea to take part was suggested by Kristy Hill who is one of our physiotherapists and a Friend of Holy Cross. In preparation for the race, Kristy has had the team working out in the physiotherapy gym and practising their technique for paddling in unison. I’m proud of the team and what they are doing for our patients.”

The Dragon Boat race is on Sunday 16 July in Kingston. The crew will sit in pairs and will paddle in races over distances of around 250 metres. In an effort to keep the paddlers coordinated, each boat will have a drummer whose job will be to beat time.

So far, the fundraisers have raised a third of their target. If you would like to make a donation, please visit the fundraising page on JustGiving.