HANOVER TWP., Pa. – “It’s fantastic. We love this event,” said Sarah Rhoads, a Sheetz employee.<\/p>\n
More than 20 teams took part in the fourth annual Lehigh Valley Plane Pull at Lehigh Valley International Airport to raise money for Special Olympics.<\/p>\n
Sarah Rhoads is with Sheetz’s team.<\/p>\n
“It is such a great cause. Sheetz has been a part of the Special Olympics for over 30 years at this point and for the Lehigh Valley,” said Rhoads.<\/p>\n
Each team has 25 people to pull a 175,000-pound plane in just seconds before the horn sounds.<\/p>\n
“It was tough, but we got it. We got it. 7.2 seconds is good,” said Angel Santa, a Nucor Rebar Fabrication team member.<\/p>\n
Santa pulled alongside his father Gabriel on Nucor Rebar Fabrication’s team.<\/p>\n
“It’s definitely a blessing to be a part, first of a company whose culture extends beyond our company and into our community, and I feel blessed to be able to partake in an event like this to do good in our community,” said Gabriel Santa.<\/p>\n
So far, the teams have raised more than $80,000. Special Olympics Greater Lehigh Valley executive director Julie Benjamin said that money goes a long way.<\/p>\n
“So, everything today, as much fun as they’re having, they’re really creating an amazing impact that allows our athletes to train and compete and be their very best all year round,” said Benjamin.<\/p>\n
The Grainger Rangers are one of the teams making that happen.<\/p>\n
“It was fun at the FedEx Plane Pull,” said Owen Miller, a Grainger Ranger team member.<\/p>\n
“For our first time ever doing this and being able to get our whole team out here was a memory that will last forever,” said Shelly Melendez with Grainger.<\/p>\n