Local businesses and organizations are lining up to see who can pull a CRJ-200 Jet Aircraft 20 feet in the fastest time, all to raise critical funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine youth mentoring programs, according to a news release from the youth organization.
The second annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine Plane Pull, hosted by Elite Airways, is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport, 80 Airport Drive in Auburn. Jason Levesque, mayor of Auburn, will serve as event co-emcee, along with event media sponsor WGME Sports Director David Eid.
Sponsoring organizations enter teams comprised of eight to 10 people to compete for the fastest pull times. Independent teams can participate by fundraising a minimum of $500 per team entry. A trophy will be presented to the team with the fastest pull time, along with prizes for top fundraisers. The event is expected to host upwards of 20 teams with a goal of raising $40,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring programs.
According to BBBSMM Executive Director Gwendolyn Hudson, funding from this year’s Plane Pull comes at a crucial time.
“The pandemic has taken its toll on area children, who remain the most vulnerable and negatively impacted in our communities,” Hudson said. “Children, especially now, benefit from positive, consistent and dependable relationships offered by caring mentors. More than 100 kids are waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister. Funding from the Plane Pull event will help create those critical, one-to-one friendships that change lives for the better.”
Spectators are welcome to attend the event and cheer on their teams, including Big and Little matches, who will be treated to airport tours following the event.
BBBS of Mid-Maine will hold a second Plane Pull in the fall on Sept. 10 in Bangor, hosted by C&L Aviation Group and Bangor International Airport.
For more information about the BBBS of Mid-Maine Plane Pull, or to sponsor and register a team, visit bbbsmidmaine.org, email [email protected] or call 207-236-BBBS.
