Lewis Hosts 3rd Annual Plane Pull Benefiting Special Olympics Illinois

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Lewis University in Romeoville will host the third annual Law Enforcement Torch Run plane pull on April 29. The tug-of-war competition is sponsored by Lewis and United Airlines and raises funds for Special Olympics Illinois, according to a news release.

Teams of 10 will compete in a tug-of-war competition to pull a United Airlines aircraft 12 feet, as fast as possible. Last year, 31 teams raised more than $40,000 to support programming for a community of 50,000 traditional athletes, Young Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, and more, the university said.

Teams must raise a minimum of $500 in funds to participate. There are several divisions for competition; open division (companies, schools, clubs, friends), public safety division (police, EMT, military, law enforcement, paramedics), Lewis University division (students, staff and alumni), and the high school division (local high school students and staff).

Spectators can attend, cheer, and watch this competition take place, the university said in a release. United Airlines will also be on-site with a variety of games and raffles. Law enforcement participants from the Five-O Racing will be at the event displaying their cars as well as a Touch-a-Truck event hosted by the Romeoville PD.