Summit PD, Fire Squad to Pull Plane for Benefit Event

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Special Olympics New Jersey.


On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Summit Police & Fire departments may face one of their toughest challenges at the 2012 Plane Pull benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey. The fundraiser begins at 8 a.m. and challenges teams to pull a Boeing 737 weighing over 93,000 lbs. across the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Summit Police & Fire team is led by Sgt. Peter Frank, whose team has participated in this event for the past 15 years. Frank says, "We support Special Olympics New Jersey because it's important to all members of PBA Local 55 and FMBA 54." In addition to the Plane Pull, he says the Summit Police Department participates in the annual Torch Run and Polar Bear Plunges.

At the Plane Pull, each team will compete in two events: Fastest Pull, in which the teams attempt to pull the aircraft 12 feet in the least amount of time; and Lowest Combined Weight Pull, in which the team with the lowest team weight to pull the aircraft 12 feet (two-minute limit) wins. There is also a category for highest fundraiser. The minimum team donation to participate is $1,000.

The event, now in its 16th year, is hosted by United Airlines and Port Authority of NY & NJ as part of Airport Family Day and is one of a series of events throughout the year sponsored by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.

All proceeds benefit the 22,000 Special Olympics New Jersey athletes that train and compete year-round throughout the state. To learn more about the event or support the Summit Police & Fire department team, visit http://www.sonj.org/LawEnforcement/PlanePull/Sponsor.php.