Recently at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, an airplane moved about 500 total feet in a few hours, yet hundreds of people cheered. The plane never even took flight, yet everyone went home happy.
UPS Air Cargo has been moving freight shipments since 1982. On Saturday, Sept. 21, 64 teams of fundraisers each took a turn at trying to move a UPS plane at O’Hare as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Plane Pull hosted by Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Plane Pull included teams from law enforcement agencies, fire departments, schools and many other groups of companies, friends and families. My friends from Resistance Pro joined forces with 10 Special Olympics athletes to form one of the participating teams. Resistance Pro raised close to $2,000 of the record-breaking $135,000 that was raised by the event.
The teams attempted to pull the plane 12 feet. That might not sound like a lot, but it is when you are pulling on a 180,000 pound UPS Airbus A300 aircraft. Still, most of the teams were able to move the plane the required 12 feet. The Maine South High School football team won the Open Division by moving the plane 12 feet in 9.81 seconds. The Chicago Police Department-O’Hare won the Public Safety Division by covering the distance in 9.34 seconds.
According to Barbara DiGuido, director of communications & media relations for the Special Olympics Illinois, UPS was approached because it has been a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Illinois. DiGuido credits the Chicago Department of Aviation for their tremendous help.
Gabriel Baron (co-owner of Resistance Pro) commented, “Resistance Pro was honored to be invited to the 2013 Special Olympics Plane Pull. The enthusiasm and natural athleticism of the 10 power lifters from Special Olympics who teamed with us was overwhelming and made us all feel welcomed and lucky to be a part of such a unique event.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by the other teams as well as everyone present for this great event. It was awesome seeing several hundred people all in great moods at O’Hare Airport on a Saturday morning. While this might have been the only time people cheered for an airplane moving 12 feet at a time, I am sure everyone felt the “trip” was successful!
— John Wroblewski, online contributor
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