Call it Heroes Helping Heroes!
The Sixth Annual Heroes Pull for Special Olympics gets slowly rolling and then picks up speed on Sunday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Splash Cove in Shawnee, right after the Shawnee St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
First, here are the necessary numbers: Teams pull two different vehicles separately – a Lenco bear and a fire truck – each weighing about 38,000 lbs.
The team with the fastest combined times wins the competition.
Each team’s combined weight limit must not exceed 1,500 lbs. A minimum pledge of $250 is required per team.
.@joelkclive previews the #HeroesPull to raise $ for @sokansas 1500lb teams needed for the March 12th competition pic.twitter.com/nbfLyt8GEd
— TJH (@THellhake) February 28, 2017
Last year, the Shawnee Fire Department won with a combined time of 23.86 seconds. Just one second separated the first and second place teams.
Anyone can enter. In addition to teams from law enforcement and firefighting, men and women from the armed services, school athletes or just about any team that meets the numbers can be part of the event.
Even those who don’t find a place on the rope can show support with a pledge and being there to cheer from the sidelines.
This year’s dollar goal is $10,000 which will support regional and state Special Olympics competitions. Things such as athlete meals, equipment, medals, insurance costs and so much more.
According to one of the founders and organizers, Merriam PD Detective Jeremiah Waters, the money is important and the competition is intense but the real reward is the look on the faces of the Special Olympians who inspire everyone around them.
This is truly one moment when we can all pull for each other!
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Joel Nichols can be reached at joel.nichols@kclive.tv.
