Fire Truck Pull to test the strength of many
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 4, 2015 1:46 PM
Strongman and strongwoman bragging rights will be on the line next month when five-member teams will each attempt to pull a Rosewood fire truck.
But the real winner will be the Wayne County Sheriff's Office since proceeds and donations from the first Fire Truck Pull will go to that office.
Bodies Unlimited of Pikeville is working with local businesses to sponsor the event on Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Rosewood Walmart parking lot.
"We are seeking sponsors to support it through donations and sponsorships," Brad Stallard, co-owner of Bodies Unlimited, said. "What we are trying to do is get the word out. Each team is five people. The donation to pull is $100 so that breaks down to only $20 a person to pull. We are just trying to get as many teams as possible."
The winner will be the team that can pull a fire truck over a set distance in the fastest time. Stallard has yet to decide on the distance, but expects it will be between 25 and 30 feet.
Currently about 12 or 13 teams have signed up, he said.
Sponsoring businesses will be recognized on the day of event. Businesses can also can set up booths on the site. The booth fee is $25.
"There will be raffles as well," Stallard said. "Toyota of Goldsboro is donating a Yeti cooler to be raffled off."
Donations will be accepted and all checks should be payable to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
"What really brought it, it was probably my brainchild," Stallard said. "About a month ago truthfully with all of the bad publicity police officers and others out there get -- in any career you always have one or two bad apples and everybody wants to focus on the two. I'd rather focus on the eight who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
"It was really a video that went on Facebook, a young lady in Florida and she was a police officer. She was talking about, 'Hey when I get a call it doesn't matter if you are black, white, Hispanic. I am going to go.' It doesn't matter who, what, where, why or when. They just go. I can't imagine every day getting a phone call and rushing to save somebody's life. But that is where it really kind of started."
Stallard said a Wayne County deputy works out at his gym. Every year the deputy takes part in an event in Raleigh for Special Olympics where participants pull a plane that weighs less than the fire truck.
"That is where the idea started kicking in a little bit," he said.
All donations will go to the Sheriff's Office. For other costs associated with the event, Stallard said he is funding out of his own pocket.
"We are doing T-shirts for everybody who participates as best we can," he said. "So I will pay for those. I won't use any of the money for that.
"We will have a trophy for the winning team plus medals. Second place will have medals as well. Third place gets a pat on the back.
"There is no prize. It is really more bragging rights than anything else. It is more bragging rights. I want to put the trophy in the gym is what it is about. We just thought it would be something good for these guys."
For more information, call Stallard at 919-738-9958.