When the teams arrived back in St Ives on Sunday evening, there was a fantastic atmosphere waiting for them. 

Families, friends, supporters and the Little Miracles team gathered to welcome everyone home after four days on the road. There were plenty of stories to tell, lots of smiles and, no doubt, a few people looking forward to a proper night's sleep! 

Thirty teams had set off just a few days earlier, taking on a 2,300-mile journey to Pisa and back in cars worth £1,000 or less. Considering the distance, the challenges along the way and the age of some of the vehicles, it's pretty impressive that only three cars didn't make it back to the finish. 

An amazing result 

When Pistons to Places was first launched, the aim was to raise £20,000 for Little Miracles, and even that felt like an ambitious target. 

As of 29th June, the total had already nearly reached an incredible £75,000! 

That total represents months of hard work from everyone involved. Teams organised fundraising events, local businesses got behind the challenge, friends and family donated, and supporters followed the journey from home.

    

Why Pistons to Places matters 

Pistons to Places was created by Nick Jones after taking part in similar automotive challenges over the years. Together with his wife, Wendy, he wanted to create something that would bring people together while raising money for a cause close to their hearts. 

After sadly losing their daughter, who had complex disabilities, Nick and Wendy know first-hand how important the right support can be for families. Having seen the difference Little Miracles makes, they wanted to help ensure more families could access that same support. 

What started as an idea has grown into an event that has brought together drivers, businesses, volunteers and supporters from all over. 

Thank you! 

A challenge like this takes months of planning, and it just wouldn't happen without the commitment of so many people. Thank you to Nick and Wendy for the time, energy and dedication they've poured into making Pistons to Places such a success. 

Thank you to every driver and co-driver who took part, every business that sponsored a team and every person who donated or followed the journey. 

Whether you raised hundreds of pounds, shared a social media post or stood at the finish line to welcome the teams home, they couldn’t have done it without you. 

What happens next? 

The money raised will help Little Miracles continue supporting children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions, along with their families. It will help us provide family support, advice, wellbeing services, activities, days out and practical help for families when they need it most. 

For some, that might mean getting support with an EHCP application. For others, it could be a counselling session, a youth club, a family activity or just knowing there's someone to turn to when things feel overwhelming. 

Looking ahead to 2027 

To keep up to date with next year's event, registration details and all the latest Pistons to Places news, follow the Pistons to Places Facebook page. 

From everyone at Little Miracles, thank you. We hope every team is incredibly proud of what they've achieved, because we're certainly proud of them!