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Plane and Simple: United Way’s Epic Plane Pull Challenge Takes Off for Charity
September 8, 2024 By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative, Burlington Local-News.ca
A team works to pull an airbus across the tarmac at Hamilton Airport at the 2023 United Way Halton and Hamilton Plane Pull event. (Photo: Jennifer Sharman/Local-news.ca) On September 21, the Halton and Hamilton branch of the United Way (UWHH) will host their sixth annual “Plane Pull” event, raising money for the organization towards its annual goal, which will be announced at the event.
During the event, participants will attempt to pull a 200,000-pound airbus for 50 feet across the tarmac at Hamilton Airport.
There will be multiple teams competing, each consisting of 15 people, some in the morning and some in the afternoon. A kids’ team will also be assembled, attempting to pull a smaller aircraft.
Awards will be presented to the fastest teams, the ones that raised the most money, and to some individuals as well. The teams often dress up in costume; last year’s Plane Pull saw a team of bees from Acclaim Health, superheroes from RBC Waterdown, and other colourful outfits.
Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristen Jacob explained what the money raised from the event goes to.
“All of the funds raised for the event that are raised locally, stay local,” Jacob said. “The money goes towards supporting over 117 programs across Halton and Hamilton that are supporting our community’s most vulnerable.”
Last year, the UWHH set a fundraising goal of $100,000 for the event and ended up raising over $171,000. Jacob says that this year they are “looking to raise even more funds that can help support our community programs.”
She also spoke about the impact that the money will have on the Halton and Hamilton communities.
“The money raised from the Plane Pull event, and the overall United Way fundraising campaign, is critical in supporting social service programs across the community,” Jacob said. “Last year, United Way Halton and Hamilton had a milestone year of raising over $12.5 million. These funds have helped support over 220,500 individuals and families in need, who were supported by over 61 different agencies. The programs are helping with important social issues like housing and food insecurity and affordability, mental health supports, helping ensure seniors don’t feel isolated, children and youth programs, domestic and intimate partner violence supports, and so many more.”
The event is sponsored by UPS and will open with an introduction from UPS representatives, along with remarks by UWHH President and CEO Brad Park and Cabinet Chair Claude DeMone.
Jacob also encourages people to bring their friends and family to cheer on the participants.
“This is a fun and family-friendly event,” Jacob said. “We will have lots of activities happening at the event including face painting, bouncy castles, sponsor activations, food trucks, and of course, the kids have the opportunity to participate in the kid’s plane pull.”
The opening ceremony starts at 9:00 a.m. and the event will wrap up around 3:00 p.m.
