Amanda Vaughn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - About 200 people got up early, ate their Wheaties and put on some dirty gloves for charity Saturday morning at the Law Enforcement Torch Run's Herc Pull fundraiser.

Craig Hockridge leads his team, The Sons and Daughters of Zeus, as they yank on approximately 105,000 pounds of airplane with all they've got. - Amanda Vaughan/NNSL Photo

The rules were simple. Gather up a team of 15 people who want to pay to see how fast they can pull a 100,000 pound airplane 15 feet. Why? Well, to raise money for the Special Olympics, that's why. Yellowknifers were all over the task.

"We certainly had a fantastic turnout," said organizer Const. Roxanne Dreilich of the Yellowknife RCMP detachment. Dreilich is a member of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics or LETR, which she said is a non-profit group that involves law enforcement officers from all agencies raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics in 40 countries around the world.

The Herc Pull was the new Yellowknife LETR chapter's first fundraising event, and Dreilich is very happy with how it went.

"There was a lot of co-operation and support from local businesses," she said.

Dreilich said it was a large task to make sure everything was done right, but was sure that after the growing pains of this first run, the event will come together much quicker in future years.

"We already have teams committing to participate next year," she said, " I am really excited about that."

Decked out in bright yellow matching T-shirts and an array of silly hats, the Sons and Daughters of Zeus were one of a couple different teams that went for a uniform look. According to Val Braden and Pauline Baisley at the registration desk, a total of 13 teams signed up for either the mixed, men's or women's categories - around 195 people all together - and there were a few friends and family members around to watch too. Braden said there were even a couple Special Olympic athletes around to cheer people on as well.

Braden is a treasurer for the Special Olympics in the territory and she was happy see how the event was turning out. "It's great to see so many teams here. Special Olympics is so proud of the great effort everyone has put in," Braden said at the event. Herself and Baisley were on the women's team "Haulin' Lasses."

Earlier in the day, they were looking forward to their turn.

"I am hoping we will be able to move it (the plane)," said Baisley. "We are very optimistic."

Sons and Daughters of Zeus "team captain" Craig Hockridge said feeling the plane move was a boost for his team.

"It felt good," said Hockridge. "We weren't sure we were gonna get it to go. It really pumped up the enthusiasm."

Hockridge's team were the first to pull up in front of the plane, and set the bar by getting the aircraft rolling, though most of the teams were able to move the plane.

According to Dreilich, the Herc weighs 75,000 pounds empty, however First Air informed her that the plane used on Saturday probably weighed closer to 105,000 pounds, taking into account fuel and some of the equipment aboard.

Samantha Stuart and Trudy Wisnoski of the Great Slave Helicopters team were surprised to have pulled pulling off the task.

"It went faster than I thought," said Wisnoski about getting the Herc moving.

"Once it was rolling it was pretty easy," agreed Stuart.

After all the dust settles, Dreilich said that the event will have raised about $12,000 for Special Olympics. She said the LETR has another large fundraising event in the works for the fall.