CHICAGO — If you've ever wanted to play tug-of-war with a 90-ton jet, there's still time to register for the chance to do so at O'Hare Saturday.
The 6th annual O'Hare Plane Pull challenges teams of 20 to pull a 180,000-pound airbus 12 feet down a tarmac and raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.
So far, the event will be the biggest yet, said organizer Matt Johnson, of Special Olympics Illinois. One hundred teams are slated to participate, compared to last year's 63.
Teams have raised more than $80,000, Johnson said, and the event is reaching for a $200,000 goal. Last year, the 63 teams pulled in $137,000 for Special Olympics Illinois.
Kyla Gardner says organizers hope to have 80 teams participating this year:
Each team must raise $1,000 ($50 per person) to compete in one of three divisions: the Open Division, for companies, schools and families; the Public Safety Division, for law enforcement, firefighters and military; or the Hotel Division, for hotel workers.
Johnson said teams can show up the morning of the event, which begins at 9:30 a.m., but it's preferable to register in advance.
And don't be afraid to stare down the nose of a jet — Johnson said he's never seen a team unable to budge the plane.
"We get groups from every walk of life," he said. "We’ve seen some teams of 20 really surprise us — people who don’t typically look like people who would have success pulling a plane."
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