Teams of 20 people participated in the Plane Pull at O’Hare International airport on Sept. 27. The teams raised money for Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) by pulling an Airbus A300 UPS jet along the runway. LT’s Aviation Club team placed third in the open event, raising more than $3,000 by pulling the 198,000 pound jet.

“I’m not going to lie, [pulling the plane] made me sore,” Aviation Club member Billy Kreikmeier ‘16 said after he participated in the event.

In total, the 84 teams that participated in the 2014 plane pull were able to raise nearly $150,000 for SOILL.

“[The plane pull] puts them in the fundraising and helping mentality,” Aviation Club faculty advisor David Root said. “I can tell they enjoyed helping out and contributing.”

This was the Aviation Club’s first time taking part in the Plane Pull but Root hopes to continue doing the annual fundraiser along with the Polar Plunge that occurs in February. Root is informed about fundraisers such as the Plane Pull and the Polar Plunge through emails the organization sends him that notify him about ways he and the Aviation club can contribute. The Aviation Club has been doing the Polar Plunge for the past two years, and Root said they were able to get into it because Jaclyn Gay of the Special Education Department and Best Buddy sponsor, asked him if he and the Club would like to contribute.

The club hopes to expand and place even more teams into the fundraiser next year and continue to raise money for SOILL.

“It was awesome donating for a good cause and supporting something good,” Kreikmeier said.