PADUCAH - A meeting for team captains in the annual Paducah's Big Brown Truck Pull is Thursday.

Special Olympics Kentucky will host the organizational meeting from 11 am to 1 pm at Texas Roadhouse, 2900 James Sanders Blvd. Captains of returning teams and anyone interested in getting information about the event are invited to attend. If you plan to come to the meeting, please RSVP to Laura Miller at 270-293-9054 or lmiller@soky.org.

More than 25 teams are expected to participate on Saturday, August 11 at the Paducah Floodwall. The event features teams in three divisions competing to determine who can pull a loaded UPS 18-wheel truck 12 feet in the fastest time. Younger teams have the option of pulling a UPS panel delivery truck. An opening ceremony will begin at 6 pm and the first pull will take place at about 6:30 pm.

Teams are limited to 15 pullers and can be made up of friends, family members or coworkers. Many teams come from companies and other community organizations, but could just as easily be any 15 friends or neighbors. 

Prizes will be awarded for the fastest pull time in men’s, women’s and co-ed (minimum of six women) divisions, as well as to the team that shows the most team spirit and the team with the best team t-shirt. There will also be awards for the top fundraising team, top individual fundraiser and the top fundraising Special Olympics athlete participant.

Bo McNail with Special Olympics of Kentucky says this event is a very big deal for the organization, and urges everyone to come out and compete.

"This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so we really want the community's support. If you want to put a team together you need 15 people. It's $750 for adult teams, and $350 for youth teams." McNail said.

Teams can sign up to compete on-line at paducahtruckpull.com. The web site gives teams and team members the ability to set up and personalize fundraising pages and send e-mail messages to their friends and family.

All participants receive the official Big Brown Truck Pull T-shirt, but teams who raise more money can earn prizes including hats, seat cushions, and water bottles. 

Proceeds from the event go to benefit Special Olympics athletes in western Kentucky and throughout the state.

For more information about the 2018 Big Brown Truck Pull or about the Captains Kickoff meeting, please contact Laura Miller at 270-293-9054 or lmiller@soky.org.