Pulling for a goal - Teams sought for airplane pull

"Pulling Our Community Together," the theme of the area's first airplane pull, is an excellent opportunity to generate funds for two very important organizations, the Area Wide United Way and Southeast Area Special Olympics.

For the first time ever the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival, together with the Area Wide United Way and Southeast Missouri Area Special Olympics are seeking teams to compete in an airplane pull competition to support United Way and Special Olympics.

The Area Wide United Way is a leader in uniting people and resources around health and human service issues to build a stronger and healthier community. The organization raised over $928,000 in 2003, supporting over 45 programs in the Southeast Missouri region.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental disabilities. Special Olympics athletes are given the chance to develop physical fitness; demonstrate courage and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, fellow athletes and communities.

Trophies to be awarded

The event, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 12 at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in conjunction with the "Heroes and Legends: Celebrating 100 Years of Flight" Air Festival, will award trophies based on several accomplishments. Based on the average time of two pulls per team, categories include: fastest pull, lightest and heaviest combined body weight, showmanship/creativity, slowest pull and women's fastest pull.

Teams of 20 are encouraged to participate in attempting to pull a 155,000-lb. Federal Express Boeing 727 for a distance of 12 feet. Kristi Thurman, project assistant at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, said, "Once momentum gets the plane going it moves pretty fast. Pulling the required distance usually takes between six and 10 seconds." Participants willl be required to sign a waiver and must be at least 18 years old.

The Air Festival is an annual event at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport which provides family entertainment, history and education of aviation. Spectator admission to the airplane pull will be included in the Air Festival admission price. Children 6 and under are free.

Thurman said that when their request for a Fed Ex plane was met they felt pretty honored. "Federal Express only meets six to 10 requests per year."

This type of event has been held all over the country and has proven to be a very successful fund-raising opportunity by providing a fun, friendly and competitive atmosphere.

For more information or to register a team call the airport office at 334-6230, Special Olympics at 334-2859 or the United Way at 334-9634.