Bloomfield PBA Teams Face Off for Special Olympics "Plane Pull"

On Saturday, September 29, two teams from Bloomfield may face one of their toughest challenges at the 2012 Plane Pull benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey. The fundraiser begins at 8 a.m. and challenges teams to pull a Boeing 737 weighing over 93,000 lbs. across the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Bloomfield PBA Local 32 team, led by Officer Luca Piscitelli, and the Bloomfield Rescue 1 team, led by firefighter Paul Mesuk, will both compete in two events: Fastest Pull, in which the teams attempt to pull the aircraft 12 feet in the least amount of time; and Lowest Combined Weight Pull, in which the team with the lowest team weight to pull the aircraft 12 feet (two-minute limit) wins. There is also a category for highest fundraiser. The minimum team donation to participate is $1,000.

The event, now in its 16th year, is hosted by United Airlines and Port Authority of NY & NJ as part of Airport Family Day and is one of a series of events throughout the year sponsored by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.

All proceeds benefit the 22,000 Special Olympics New Jersey athletes that train and compete year-round throughout the state. To learn more about the event or support the Bloomfield teams, visit http://www.sonj.org/LawEnforcement/PlanePull/Sponsor.php. 

ABOUT SONJ: Special Olympics New Jersey provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.