Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is hosting the 7th Annual CLE Plane Pull benefitting Special Olympics Ohio (SOOH) on July 9, in the I-X Center parking lot. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. and the first pull kicks off at 10 a.m., followed by the Kids Pull.
“Last year was our best year yet for this event,” said Interim Airport Director Fred Szabo. “Our goal is to continue to make this event bigger and better every year and continue to raise money for our friends at the Special Olympics Ohio.”
The CLE Plane Pull is free and open to the public.
During the CLE Plane Pull, teams of 20 people will have one chance to pull a United Airlines Boeing 737, weighing up to 150,000 pounds, 12 feet in the fastest time. Prizes are awarded for the fastest team pull in the Men’s, Co-Ed, Female and Public Safety divisions. Co-ed teams must have at least eight women. Each team is required to raise a minimum $750 per team to participate (or $37.50 per person) and may also raise additional funds to be eligible for top fundraiser team and top individual fundraiser.
Last year, the CLE Plane Pull raised more than $68,000 for Special Olympics athletes—the most our event has ever raised since we started this annual event! Special Olympics Ohio provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for adults and children with intellectual disabilities, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their own families, their peers and the community.
Special Olympics Ohio serves more than 23,000 athletes throughout the state, including 4,500 athletes in the Greater Cleveland Area (Cuyahoga, Lorain, Geauga and Lake Counties) and 2,000 in the Cleveland Municipal School District.
