Teams of 10 will not only be pulling a 70,000-plus pound jet Saturday, but also pulling their weight in fundraising for the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics Plane Pull will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 26 at the DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive, West Chicago. Registration opens at 8 a.m.

“The goal of the event is to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympic athletes here in Illinois,” said Mary Pocuis, leg leader of Lake 14 - DuPage County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Teams will compete to pull the jet 15 feet in the shortest time. Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the three fastest pulls, and the team with the most money raised will win access to a Cubs rooftop for 10 people. All participants will receive a Plane Pull T-Shirt.

The 10 members of a team can consist of any group including law enforcement, fire departments, private companies, high schools, colleges, fraternal groups, civic groups, military, friends and family. Each member of the team is required to raise a minimum of $50, making the team’s minimum total of money raised at $500.

Last year, the Plane Pull raised about $5,000 and the hope for this year is to double that, Pocuis said. As of Wednesday, there were eight teams registered, doubling from four teams last year.

The Westmont Police Department, which has participated in the event since it was created three years ago, is accepting donations and selling shirts, hats and pins to raise money for the cause. Members of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and Westmont Police Department officers volunteer their time to help man the event by doing administrative tasks.

“Our department has participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics for several years and personally by seeing the reaction and participation by the Special Olympics Participants makes it all worthwhile,” said Deputy Chief Tom Mulhearn and two-time volunteer for the Plane Pull.

The Special Olympics Illinois is a nonprofit organization that raises funds and provides year-round sports training and competition to the more than 21,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Illinois.

Those interested in getting involved or registering a team can call Jeff Henson at (800) 394-0562, or e-mail him at jhenson@soill.org, or sign up at the event.

Individuals who would like to get involved but do not have a team are also welcome to participate and will be placed on a team on the day of the event.

Participants are strongly urged to wear gloves and athletic shoes. A completed registration form and donations are required to participate in the event.

For more information, visit www.illinoisplanepull.com or www.soill.org and click on Torch Run.