LBFD officials and Special Olympics representatives pose for photos inside the fire department’s headquarters. Photo by Stephanie Rivera.
The Long Beach Fire Department was recognized Tuesday morning for its participation in the annual Plane Pull fundraiser at Long Beach Airport, benefiting Special Olympics Southern California.
Fire officials were also awarded trophies for placing first in the fire department section of the competition for four years in a row.
Organized by firefighter Ernesto Torres, the teams over the years have consisted of 25 LBFD firefighters who, paired with a Special Olympics athlete acting as an honorary team captain, compete to pull a 124,000-pound FedEx Boeing 757 airplane the fastest.
The firefighters have donated or raised close to $20,000.
“We’ve definitely come a long way and we’re extremely excited to participate this year,” Torres told a group of visiting Special Olympics athletes who came to present a plaque at LBFD’s headquarters.
LBFD Chief Mike DuRee, who was on hand to accept the plaque, said he grew up watching his aunt perform as an athlete in the Special Olympics and has volunteered with his family during the World Games.
“The Special Olympics has a special place in my heart,” DuRee said.
The Plane Pull competition, held every August, raises funds for SOSC that provides more than free summer and fall games for athletes.
“It’s not just one track meet a year,” said Luke Farnell, senior manager of SOSC special events, to the group. “We have year round support for these athletes through leadership programs, through fundraisers, through community events and those things can’t happen without the support of you guys.”
For more information on the Plane Pull fundraiser click here. For more information on Special Olympics Southern California click here.