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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER
Bethlehem Catasauqua East Penn Northampton Northwestern Parkland Salisbury Whitehall-Coplay

'Sorry if you lose to my team!'

Published October 31. 2023 11:51AM
by Lani Goins Special to the Bethlehem Press

The day dawned overcast and drizzly, but the mood of the participants was sunny as they gathered for their chance to be the fastest team to pull an airplane.

The plane was a 210-foot-long FedEx Express Airbus 300, weighing in at more than 260,000 pounds with a wingspan of 197 feet. The participants were part of the Lehigh Valley Plane Pull for Special Olympics Saturday, Oct. 7.

Eighteen teams participated: FedEx; IronPigs; Driscoll’s Home Center; Sheetz (two teams); Team Guardian; IBEW Local 375; Wegmans; Team Berks; Team Bethlehem; Rodriguez Family; Team Northampton Wildcats; Pullin’ It for Samantha; KSP Fitness; Rockin’ Overhaulerz; Colonial Regional Police; and the Allentown Police Athletic League.

Teams were assigned to five divisions. Each team (recommended size was 25 people on a team) needed to pull the Airbus for 12 feet. After each pull, the timer was reset, and a pilot carefully backed the plane to the starting line. The teams with the best time in their division were the winners. Teams members were expected to raise $2,500 through donations.

Bethlehem’s Mounted Police with horses Mason and Star greeted athletes and visitors as they entered the event.

“We obviously couldn’t have the plane pull without LVI and their amazing employees here today,” said Julie Benjamin, representing the Greater Lehigh Valley Special Olympics during the opening ceremony.

“We are happy Mother Nature decided to take a little break here for this wonderful event,” said Colin Bickerman from the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. “I want to thank Julie and her entire team at Special Olympics. It really has been a seamless process. From the moment she called, we said ‘yes, we want to have this right here in the Lehigh Valley!’”

Travis Miller from team Sheetz said his team had raised about $50,000.

“Obviously that’s the reason we’re here, to support the Special Olympics and its athletes,” he said. “Sheetz has been working with Special Olympics for about 30 years. I’m really excited to say over the course of last year we have raised $430,000 for Special Olympics. Myself and my team are really excited to be here and the Sheetz employees who have supported us.”

Miller wished all teams good luck, but added, “I’m sorry if you lose to my team.”

“Team Northampton Wildcats had a great time at our first plane pull,” said team Northampton’s Kyle Whiteman. “We had a mix of athletes, coaches and volunteers on our team.

“We pulled the plane 12 feet in 8.5 seconds,” Whiteman said. “It was pretty easy. It (the plane) kinda just starts moving when everyone pulls it for a second. Then it just rolls. We will definitely do it again next year.”

Vendors included Dinky’s Ice Cream, a vendor with ponchos, food vendors and a raffle and 50/50 for Special Olympics. The host team, FedEx, had their own tent, as did Team Sheetz.

When all the pulling was over, a winner was declared in each division. The big arms of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs took Division 1. Division 2’s winner, the Rodriguez Family, had the fastest overall time of 6.22 seconds! IBEW Local 375 won Division 3, with the second fastest overall time. Division 4 was won by KSP Fitness, and the Allentown Police Athletic League had the fastest time for division 5.

Fundraising for the Plane Pull continues through November. To donate, visit give.specialolympicspa.org/give/481679/#!/donation/checkout

A team from Sheetz puts its best effort into pulling a Federal Express jet plane in competition with other teams in a fundraiser for the Greater Lehigh Valley Special Olympics.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS GRAVES A second Sheetz team combines itsskill to overcome gravity as they pull a Federal Express jet plane across the finish line in a fundraiser for the Greater Lehigh Valley Special Olympics at Lehigh Valley International Airport Saturday, Oct. 7.
Wegman's fielded a team to participate in the annual fundraiser that pits company teams together in an airplane pulling competition.
The team from KSP Fitness Training from Bethlehem celebrates a successful job after competing in the airplane pulling competition.
Liz and Dennis Driscoll, owners of Driscoll Home Center of East Pittston and of Old Forge Pa. manned a tent selling merchandise as part of an airplane pulling competition as a fundraiser for the Greater Lehigh Valley Special Olympics at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Saturday October 7. “We are here to support Special Olympics,” said Liz Driscoll. She said her daughter, Sarah, was “running the event.”
Woman in red is unknown. Vanessa is in black and with child, David Rivera. Francisco Batista is in the black cap while Mikey is with the child, Jack in the red cap. Shane Schneider is holding Sofie while Anna Schneider is with the stroller holding SJ and Gunnar Schneider. Jeff Schneider Is on the right. The group was at the airplane pulling competition as a fundraiser for the Greater Lehigh Valley Special Olympics at Lehigh Valley International Airport Oct. 7. (Wow, this is a mess.)
Matthew Aaron, president and CEO of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, observes as Daniel Morales and Sheetz executive Travis Miller address the competitors.
The Iron Pigs team gathers for a group photo in front of the Federal Express jet plane that they would pull during the the airplane pulling competition.