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On Saturday, September 14, we had the pleasure of participating in one of the most anticipated events by our local community and staff-- the Special Olympics Annual Dulles Plane Pull, held at Dulles International Airport. Now in its 31st year, this incredible event raised $580,000, with 80 teams of up to 25 people competing to see who could pull an 82-ton FedEx or United Boeing 757 airplane 12 feet in the shortest time. Participants lined up along a large rope attached to the aircraft to pull it, creating a thrilling competition.
In addition to the main event, the Dulles Plane Pull featured a festival with live music, food, vendor games, a car show, military aircraft, and a kid zone where we were stationed, next to the face painting and bouncy house.
For this event, we had two teams. The first team consisted of 20 center staff members who were eager and excited to pull the plane, while the second team remained at our tent to distribute information and provide blood pressure checks. Our pulling team, although new staff to the event, was full of energy and enthusiasm. When it was our turn, we were introduced as the Patient First team, and we managed to pull the plane in 46 seconds. While it wasn’t the best time, the experience brought us closer together, and we had a blast working as a team.
Overall, this event was a great success, not only for bringing our staff together, but also for supporting the Special Olympics and connecting with the community. We’re proud to have been a part of this amazing day and can’t wait to return next year!