40 teams tow the lines to fight cancer

GUAM—Guam’s hometown airline, United Airlines proudly hosted its 11th Annual Plane Pull Event—“Towing the Line to Save Lives”—at the United hangar in Tiyan on June 18, uniting the community in support of the fight against cancer.

This year, 1,000 individuals representing 40 teams dug their heels into the tarmac to take a stand against cancer, supported by more than 500 cheering spectators made up of cancer survivors, friends, and family.

Forty teams of 25 members each competed to pull a United Boeing 737-800 aircraft—129 feet long, 41 feet high, and 124 feet wide, weighing a total of 145,000 lbs—12 feet in the fastest time.

The top three male and co-ed teams walked away with trophies and airline tickets from United. Two teams, one from each category, claimed the coveted title of 2016 United Plane Pull Champion: A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority (Men’s Division Champions); and United Fire Family sponsored by Committee to Elect Regine Biscoe Lee (Co-ed Division Champions). The Westin Resort Guam earned the 2016 Team Spirit Award for the fifth time in the event’s history.

Sam Shinohara, United’s managing director, Airport-Asia/Pacific said: “Our beneficiaries, American Cancer Society and Guam Cancer Care, do an incredible job of caring for Guam’s cancer patients and their families, and we are proud to support their efforts. At some juncture, the American Cancer Society will find a cure for cancer, but in the meantime Guam Cancer Care is helping our friends and neighbors seek the right cancer treatment. We want to help them in their endeavors to beat cancer. This is an employee-sponsored and -driven event, and I want to recognize my almost 1,000 co-workers who helped to make this happen.”

Since 2006 United, with the support of the Guam community, has raised more than half a million dollars to benefit the American Cancer Society and Guam Cancer Care. The annual event is organized and hosted by United employees and has attracted the support of more than 9,000 participants over the past 11 years.

Results for the Men’s Division
• 1st Place: A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam-Team Airport Fuetsan Man Metgot-On it 24/7 (Pulling Force) with a time of 5.14 seconds.
• 2nd Place: FD All Stars sponsored by Moylan’s NetCare with a time of 5.15 seconds.
• 3rd Place: LeoPalace Resort Guam/Team Chikara-with a time of 5.20 seconds

Results for the Co-Ed Division
• 1st Place: United Fire Family sponsored by Committee to Elect Regine Biscoe Lee-with a time of 5.34 seconds.
• 2nd Place: Judiciary of Guam/Team Justice-with a time of 5.51 seconds.
• 3rd Place: South Pacific Petroleum Corporation/Team 76-with a time of 5.54 seconds.
• 2016 Team Spirit Award Winner: The Westin Resort Guam. (PR)