Saturday, September 28, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport will welcome hundreds of visitors ready to flex their muscles at the first-ever Southwest Virginia Plane Pull, sponsored by FedEx, Western Virginia Regional Jail, Signature Aviation, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport and Delta Airport Consultants.
It’s man against machine as teams of 25 who raise $2500 (or more!) to benefit Special Olympics Virginia test their strength against a Boeing 757 FedEx airplane to see who can pull it 12 feet the fastest. In addition to bragging rights and trophies for categories like fastest pull and heaviest team, the more you raise, the more “VIP” your pull will be! Teams who raise $5000 will receive 25 Plane Pull participant t-shirts, and the top 3 fundraising teams will get to enjoy our “Aviation Lounge” on event day.
Team check-in begins at 10 am at the cargo area of the airport, followed by our Opening Ceremony at 10:30 and the first pull at 11 am.
One team you’re certain to see on the ropes this fall is the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office, lead by team captain Bryan Young, whose family has been involved with Special Olympics Virginia and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for more than three decades. Bryan followed in the footsteps of his father, Scott, who retired from the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, and both have been deeply involved in a wide array of events and fundraisers, including motorcycle rides, golf tournaments, tip-a-cops and cover-the-cruiser fundraisers. They also regularly volunteer and support state events like Summer Games and Polar Plunge.
Now, the father-son duo is excited to bring the Southwest Virginia Plane Pull to the area to showcase not only their commitment but also the region’s commitment to Special Olympics Virginia. “I’m hoping we have a chance to show that our region can host a big event,” said Scott.
Bryan added, “After my first event, I got hooked. I always wanted to return the next year and couldn’t wait for the next event where I could help and volunteer. Special Olympics has given me more joy than I could ever express.”
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About the Plane Pull: Starting in 1992, Deputy Chief Joe Hurtuk with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority thought of the Plane Pull competition as a fun way to raise money for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The first event took place at Dulles International Airport in 1993 and has since evolved into an event-filled festival that has raised more than $3 million for Special Olympics Virginia. This year’s Dulles Plane Pull takes place Sept. 14, and is followed by the first-ever Southwest Plane Pull Sept. 28 in Roanoke.