WASHINGTON — Virginia’s branch of the Special Olympics is gearing up for its annual “plane pull,” in which teams compete to haul an 80-ton aircraft across the tarmac at Dulles International Airport.
Special Olympics Virginia needs hundreds of volunteers to help staff the event, which raises money for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The group put out the call for 600 volunteers Thursday. The plane pull takes place in September.
Because volunteers will work in shifts this year instead of a full day, they need double the number of volunteers from last year, said Ellen Head, director of development at Special Olympics Virginia.
Volunteers are needed to help with T-shirt sales, checking in competing teams, directing parking and event clean up. Volunteers can sign up for either the 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. shift or the noon to 4 p.m. shift on the group’s website.
Teams of 25 people who have raised $1,500 are eligible to participate in the actual plane pull. Teams compete to pull a 164,000-pound aircraft at least 12 feet across the runway.
Special Olympics Virginia hosted its first plane pull in 1993. Since then, the annual event has helped rake in $2 million, the group said.
This year’s plane pull will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at Dulles International Airport. Other festivities include live music, a car show, military and civilian aircraft displays and children’s games. Admission is free, but attendees cannot bring backpacks, coolers or firearms. Pets are barred from the festival unless they’re service animals.
WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this story.
