50,000-pound firetruck pull raising $15K and counting for first responders

A group of high school students pulled a fire truck on Saturday to raise funds for Edmonton Firefighter's Burn Treatment Society.

A group of Edmonton students were taking on the herculean task of pulling a 50,000-pound firetruck as fast as they could in the name of a good cause.

Each year, Centre High School students interested in emergency response careers fundraise in teams for the Edmonton Firefighter Burn Treatment Society.

The group raises money and awareness for the prevention, treatment and recovery resources related to anyone who suffers burns.

Since its creation in 2008, the event has raised more than $145,000 for the firefighter organization. This year’s goal is $25,000. Students and teams had fundraised more than $15,000 alone prior to the event.

“The firetruck weighs about 50,000 pounds, and every year that we do this, my students say it was heavy,” said teacher Ashley Whitlock.

It’s worth it to the students, though, especially as most are in the school’s fourth and fifth-year Emergency Response Career Pathways program. Between 90 and 120 students graduate each year, Whitlock says, with many of them headed for careers in police, fire and paramedicine.

“Some of them are back here now, some of them are on the fire truck. It’s amazing to see the reconnection,” she said.

“It’s great to come together, see the public cheering them on … it just creates a real sense of community.”