60-ton plane pull fundraiser held for Special Olympics athletes

Special Olympics Southern California kicked off their 13th annual plane pull fundraiser at the Long Beach Airport where over 24 teams of volunteers competed to see who could pull a 60-ton UPS cargo jet the fastest over 12 feet on Sept. 13.

The event proceeds went to Southern California’s Special Olympic athletes, helping the organization provide uniforms, equipment and training for their athletes.

“Different members of the community and individuals with special needs or disabilities, and so we are ones that carry the flame of Hope for these athletes, so they don’t have to pay a dime for any of the sports that they and get involved with” Orange County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Watson, an alum of LBCC and chairman of the plane pull event said.

Beyond the plane pull, food stalls, live music and a small Cessna plane children could band together to pull a short distance themselves were at the event.

“It’s a part of our community awareness, it keeps us in touch with the community,” said team member for the Katten law firm Malinda Washington, who participated with her son and grandson, said.

_{Members of the Katten Law Group team work together to pull a plane Sept. 13 at the Long Beach Airport. (Jacyn King)}

The event supports “over 25,000 athletes in 11 counties with 13 different sports” according to Deputy Watson.

The teams of participants ranged from aviation companies, law enforcement, healthcare companies, families and high school sports teams.

The LA County Sheriff’s Department’s team, Twin Towers, had the fastest time of the event at 5.93 seconds, beating their first attempt time of 6.56 seconds.

_{Members of the LA County Sheriff’s Department team work together to pull a plane on Sept. 13 at the Long Beach Airport. (Daniel Quinones)}

All teams received two attempts to move the plane, and the majority of the teams used their second chance to score a faster time.

The event had a variety of local and national sponsors including Microsoft, Katten, UPS and Kaiser Permanente.

The fundraiser ended up raising $230,000 of their $275,000 goal.  

“It doesn’t matter what shape or size you are, just give it a good try,” Watson said. “The athletes have a saying I think is fantastic, ‘Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.'”