We got lots of compliments on our coverage of the Special Olympics earlier this year, including a lot of readers emailing to say that the articles had tugged at their heartstrings—well, this Saturday is your chance to tug back.  For one of the coolest charity events I’ve ever heard of, the Long Beach Airport is hosting a plane pull competition to benefit Special Olympics Southern California. 

Teams of 20 will strap in and struggle to pull a 153-foot, 158,000-pound FedEx 727 aircraft 25 feet down the tarmac.  There will be prizes for the fastest and slowest times, as well as for the most creative team—I have no idea what that means.  But the real purpose of the contest—other than to see whether police officers or firefighters are stronger—is to raise money for a worthy organization. “Last year’s event raised $16,000 and this year’s goal is to more than double that to $35,000,” says Bill Shumard, President and CEO of Special Olympics Southern California. 

Each team of 20 will have to donate a tax-deductible minimum of $1,000; if you’d like to enter as an individual, it’s $50.  If you’re interested in entering as a team or an individual, sign-up info is available at www.socalplanepull.com, or you can arrive on the day of the event (this Saturday, August 16) at 8:45 in the morning.  If you’re going to watch, and perhaps donate without the stress of pulling a plane, the competition will begin at ten in the morning.  If you’re going as a contestant or spectator, take Wardlow into the airport off Cherry, and park in the Boeing lot.

If you can’t make it out, check this live video player Saturday morning to see video–we’ll post it again towards the top the day of.