Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling’s inaugural Toilet Bowl Races were a big hit at the 2024 Hudson Valley Plane Pull on Sunday Oct. 6 at the 2nd Aviation at Stewart International Airport, bringing in nearly $2,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society.

Those funds, coupled with the money raised by Nebrasky’s Plane Pull team, allowed Nebrasky to donate over $3,500 to support groundbreaking breast cancer research, patient care programs, treatment options, and much more.

According to ACS, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. It accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year, and is expected to kill more than 42,000 women in 2024 alone. Overall, the average risk of a woman in the U.S. developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer.

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for supporting this event to raise much-needed funds, and for taking a stand with us against this deadly disease that has touched so many of our lives, including mine,” said Nebrasky owner Paul Nebrasky. “We were able to make a difference, and we had fun while doing it. We will be back again next year with our Toilet Bowl Races, only even bigger and better!”

Nebrasky’s Toilet Bowl Races were an innovative twist on a traditional race. Each racer made a minimum $5 donation to participate and two racers went head to head on toilet bowls mounted to carts, using plungers to propel themselves 20 feet to the finish line. The first person to cross the finish line was crowned the winner and given a prize for their efforts.

Nebrasky’s Toilet Bowl Races were developed in collaboration with the Plane Pull, by Men Wear Pink’s David Claisse, and the American Cancer Society as a unique way for participants to give a little extra and enjoy some laughs while awaiting their turn for the big event. During the Plane Pull, teams of 10 put their teamwork and strength to the test, attempting to pull a United Airline plane 100 feet across the runway and earn one of the top awards: Fastest Pull, Runner-up Pull, Most Spirited, and Biggest Heart.

“It was a beautiful day with some amazing teams uniting in the fight against breast cancer. It was a true team-building experience, and the best teams knew how to work together and pull that plane!” said Kristi Greco, senior development manager, American Cancer Society.

The annual event, which raised over $53,000 this year, provides an opportunity for the community to come together to honor cancer survivors, spread the word about reducing cancer risk, and above all, raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives.