The community is invited to test their strength and teamwork skills at the annual Plane Pull at the Long Beach Airport this Saturday.
Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) and Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) are hosting this event where residents can try to drag a 124,000 pound jet across 12 feet. The team who does this the quickest will be etched in the Plane Pull history books, and all proceeds for the event will go towards helping local athletes training with SOSC.
The Plane Pull began in 2010 and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to “help empower people with intellectual disabilities to live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives,” according to a public statement from SOSC. This year’s fundraising goal is $275,000 and the event has already raised $149,284.
SOSC offers free, year-round programs that aim to improve health, self-confidence and independence among athletes with intellectual disabilities as well as encourage acceptance and inclusion in the community.
Participants can register alone or as a team, either in-person or online. Teams are made up of 26 people and a SOSC athlete co-pilot who is there to cheer their team on. There are over 30 teams an individual can join for $75. Children can join the kid’s pull for $25 to join a small team to pull a small California Highway Patrol plane and receive a T-shirt.
The event will also include a festival area with a car show, live entertainment, a dunk tank and food from Legends Sports Bar. Attendees will hear inspiring stories from athletes about how the Special Olympics has helped change their lives.
Plane Pull will take place Saturday, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Long Beach Airport on the Cherry Avenue side (3590 E Wardlow Road).
