Teams from across the Midlands will once again be gathering in downtown Columbia to pull for cures in the fight against childhood cancers.
The 10th annual Firetruck Pull will be taking place on Saturday April 1, 2023 near the intersection of Lady and Main streets. Beginning at 10 a.m. area citizens can try their luck pulling one of two firetrucks from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department down a 30-foot section of Lady Street. The teams who can complete the pull in the fastest times will be declared the winners.
All proceeds raised from the competition will go to support ‘Curing Kids Cancer’ and its ongoing mission to fund pediatric cancer research and treatment in our area.
“This is always a wonderful event to usher in spring here in Columbia and the fire department is proud to help support it,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “More importantly, we’re proud that we can aid ‘Curing Kids Cancer’ through this program and help them give hope to kids who have been touched by awful forms of cancer.”
“As firefighters we pride ourselves on being heroes in the eyes of our community, but on the day of the truck pull everyone can be a hero by rolling up their sleeves and making a pull for cures,” Jenkins added.
“This is our 10th Fire Truck Pull and it is one of my favorite events because it brings together the community and the kids,” said Grainne Owen, who is the president and co-founder of Curing Kids Cancer, “It means so much to the families that the teams literally pull on their behalf. This demonstration of support means so much to me personally. I love it!”
2022 Firetruck Pull in Downtown Columbia
Last year marked the first time that the firetruck pull was able to be held live and in person since 2019. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the event having to be held virtually in 2020 and 2021. By the time the 2022 pull concluded more than $19,000 was raised and all of those funds went to support the Gamecock Curing Kids Cancer $1.2 million endowment to the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands.
For more information on the event and to register a team, click here.
