Truck Pull Fundraiser For World Alzheimer's Day Brings Community Together At Peterborough Airport
/The sixth annual ‘Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull’ tested teamwork and strength while raising money for World Alzheimer’s Day at the Peterborough Airport on Wednesday.
Minds and Motion team celebrating their successful truck pull at the sixth annual event. Photo by Felicia Massey.
The event challenged teams to beat each other’s times by pulling the 44,000-pound firetruck the fastest while community and family members watched on and supported the cause.
AON, Trent Varsity and Minds in Motion were among the teams competing at this year’s event which took place on World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept. 21.
“We’re hoping to raise awareness in the community about Alzheimer’s and Dementia and helping our clients live normal, everyday lives,” said Jennifer Watson who pulled with Minds in Motion. “They can do everything just as much as everyone else.”
All proceeds from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull support the programs and services of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.
The truck pull hasn’t been held since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. That event was deemed a success after raising $40,000.
“I am supporting all of the wonderful people that my husband and I have met through Minds in Motion before he passed away a year ago,” said truck-puller Diane Knight. “We made wonderful friends and did lots of socializing, it was just nice to all be together. I think it’s the best thing to ever happen.”
“I did it three years ago with my husband and I wanted to come back today and be a part of it,” she said.
Honorary chair of the event Reverend Ken Fast ensured the teams of 10-12 (10 for men, 12 for women and mixed) were ready to pull before they began.
Rev. Fast holds several Guinness World Records and was dubbed the “world’s strongest priest.” He has pulled several fire trucks, a house and a 188.83-tonne Globemaster III plane.
The Trent Varsity rugby and rowing girls getting ready to prove there strength. Photo by Felicia Massey.
