Your news Des Plaines Firefighters Local 4211 to support Operation North Pole

Members of Des Plaines Firefighters Local 4211 invite the public to take part in the “Pull the Firetruck to the to the North Pole” fundraising event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 1487, 50 W. Oakton St., Des Plaines.

Money raised at the event will help sponsor Operation North Pole, an annual event for families of children dealing with life threatening/terminal illnesses.

While one of the highlights of the “Pull the Firetruck to the North Pole” will include teams competing against each other to see who can pull an 80,000-pound fire truck the fastest, the following will also be available:

Ÿ Free admission for the entire family;

Ÿ DJ, music and games for people of all ages;

Ÿ Beanbag toss games for the young and old;

Ÿ A fire pole for children;

Ÿ Children’s obstacle and fire extinguishing course;

Ÿ Antique fire equipment;

Ÿ Children’s hose barrel competition — weather permitting;

Ÿ Grilled food, beer, wine and soft drinks available at a nominal cost.

Coordinating the event with Des Plaines firefighters is Barb Dabler, president of Operation North Pole ORD., Inc. Operation North Pole ORD. Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that annually sponsors a fantasy flight to the North Pole for area children dealing with life threatening/terminal illnesses and their families.

Working with various children’s hospitals in the area, as well as Ronald McDonald House, the all-volunteer organization provides a day of fantasy and fun for about 60 families at O’Hare International Airport the first Saturday of December. The day’s event is sponsored in cooperation with United Airlines, which provides the use of three gates and a Boeing 757 airliner, thus making the “flight” to visit Santa a reality in the minds of these special children.

“Operation North Pole relies upon the generosity of our many supporters to help us raise the funds needed to fulfill the wish lists of our special guests each year,” Dabler said.

“We are most fortunate to have the strong support of public safety personnel, and are especially grateful to the Des Plaines firefighters and fire department, who assist us in our fundraising efforts throughout the entire year, including this, our first Fire Truck Pull to the North Pole Family Fun Fest.”

According to Dabler, Operation North Pole strives to raise as much money as possible to “provide one day of holiday fantasy, free of worry for area children and families who deal with life-threatening medical conditions daily.”

Unfortunately, there are more deserving children and families than money. It is hoped that event will help raise additional money, as well as create an awareness as to the purpose and impact of Operation North Pole.

When not working on Operation North Pole, Dabler is a longtime emergency room employee at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Among many volunteers assisting Dabler with the Firetruck Pull are Tim Crossin, Operation North Pole ORD. Inc. treasurer, and Cully Butenschoen, Des Plaines firefighter engineer and vice president of Des Plaines Firefighters Union, Local 4211.

For information, call (847) 813-5387, email operationnorthpoleORD@gmail.com or visit the Operation North Pole website, operationnorthpole.org.

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