Registration open for Travis Mills Foundation Plane Pull in Portland Oct. 28

The Travis Mills Foundation Plane Pull is scheduled to be held Saturday, Oct. 28. The Hammond Lumber Plane Pull Team has been presenting sponsor last year and this year. Submitted photo

The Travis Mills Foundation Plane Pull is scheduled to be held Saturday, Oct. 28. Once again, organizers are asking the public to flex their muscles to pull an 80-ton FedEx plane for post-911 recalibrated veterans and their families served by the foundation.

Last year’s event included 40 teams, raising $270,000 for recalibrated veterans served by the Travis Mills Foundation. Last year’s winning team, Vigor Strength, pulled the plane in a record-breaking 4.652 seconds, according to a news release from Molly Lovell-Keely, foundation communications and marketing manager.

This year’s event will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the tarmac at Northeast Air at Portland International Jetport. To register, visit give.classy.org/2023TMFPlanePull.

Each team must include 20 to 25 members; only 20 people will be able to pull the plane — it’s recommended to have extra people in case of day-of absences. Each team must also and raise $2,500, with proceeds supporting the foundation.

There will be awards for Top Fundraiser, Quickest Pull, Drag Award (slowest pull) and Most Patriotic. The event will also include food trucks, children’s activities, military presentations and an opportunity to meet U.S. Army Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Travis Mills.

“We love holding this event each year,” said Mills. “Anyone and everyone can absolutely pull this plane, it’s great for team building with your friends and co-workers, or get your family together to form a team.”

The event’s presenting sponsor is Hammond Lumber; sponsorships are still available by emailing Shannon Ferran, business development associate at shannon@travismillsfoundation.org.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves post-9/11 veterans who have sustained service-related injuries, including the loss of limbs, and other lifelong injuries. The foundation helps these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide rest and relaxation at its retreat in the Belgrade Lakes Region.