Special Olympics Pennsylvania - Greater Lehigh Valley Pocono Region’s newest team fundraising event is coming in for landing at the Lehigh Valley International airport! The Lehigh Valley Plane Pull, presented by Sheetz, will take place Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Lehigh Valley Plane Pull combines fundraising with a fun competition to see which team of 25 can pull a FedEx Airbus 300 airplane, which weighs 175,000 pounds, a distance of 12 feet the fastest.?The winning participants will be named the strongest team in the Lehigh Valley! The funds raised at this event help ensure that athletes in the Greater Lehigh Valley Pocono Region have access to year-round sports, health, and leadership programming free of charge.

Registration for the event is currently open - so create your team, invite your friends to join, fundraise and get ready to pull that plane! Teams are encouraged to register by Sept. 22, 2023. Registration details and event guidelines can be found at www.lvplanepull.org.

During the event, teams will compete to pull the plane the fastest in their division. Divisions include:

Open Division: Companies, clubs, friends and families?

Public Safety Division: Law enforcement, first responders, military personnel?

Fitness Division: Gyms, yoga, running clubs, or other fitness groups?

University Division: Colleges, universities, students and staff?

High School Division: High school students, clubs, and staff?

“Participants are doing more than pulling a plane and helping athletes,” says Executive Director Julie Benjamin, “Their commitment to inclusion makes a lasting impact in our community through health programs, fitness groups, leadership opportunities, adaptive competitions and more.”

During the event, teams and attendees can participate in raffles led by Special Olympics Pennsylvania coaches and enjoy food trucks from local eateries.

The Lehigh Valley Plane Pull is presented by Sheetz, and other event sponsors include: FedEx, Airport Authority, Amazon, Members 1st Federal Credit Union, Wegmans, St. Luke’s and Penske.

“Sheetz is proud to be partnering with Special Olympics Pennsylvania in this first-of-its-kind event for the Lehigh Valley,” said Nick Ruffner, public relations manager for Sheetz. “Our employees in this area are so passionate about this event. This is a creative, fun way to bring attention to all of the great work done year-round by Special Olympics Pennsylvania.”

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