Members of USC’s Equestrian Pulling for Jackson team tug a firetruck during the 12th Annual Firetruck Pull on March 22, 2025. The two equestrian teams competed against each other for children Jackson and Asher. (Photo by Jack Bradshaw/Carolina News & Reporter)
Columbia’s Soda City Market became the site of a unique competition on Saturday as people dressed in creative costumes pulled massive firetrucks 50 feet down Main Street.
The event, created to raise money for children battling cancer, was founded by Clay and Grainne Owen 12 years ago after they lost a son, Killian, to leukemia when he was just 9.
It was a fun way to bring the community together in an effort to find a cure for childhood cancer. All funds raised will be donated to cancer research at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands.
Thirty-two teams participated in the event to see who could get the fastest time pulling the firetruck to win for the child they were sponsoring.
Market-goers looked on and cheered.
“We work very closely with Prisma Health,” Clay Owen said. “… We have a very strong relationship with the hospital, and they help us identify the children.”
He and his wife’s organization is called Curing Kids’ Cancer. Clay Owen graduated from the University of South Carolina and worked for CNN and in corporate communications at AT&T before coming to USC last year to teach in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
The sponsored child got to interact with their truck-pulling team.
“Well, myself, along with my team and all staff members in our clinic work with these patients on a daily basis, and we love getting to see them outside of work,” said Stacy Davis, a local healthcare worker. “And we know that pediatric cancer is very underfunded. So this is an event that helps raise money for just pediatric cancer awareness and research.”
Some teams have been doing this for years. For others, it was their first time.
“This is my third year doing it,” said Carly Jenkins, a member of USC’s equestrian team. “… Back in my freshman year, Grainne and Clay came in and shared their story. I think just getting to see real life, the impact it has on people, is so much bigger than what we can do ourselves. So being able to raise money and bring awareness every year to a situation that impacts so many, I think, is huge. And that is why I keep doing it.”
Teams raised their money through sponsorships, then came together to compete for firetruck-pulling bragging rights.
Last year’s event raised $21,000. This year’s participants are looking to surpass that number, posting a record $61,000 on Saturday with more yet to be counted.
USC’s Equestrian Pulling for Liam team member Emerson Madonia and sponsoree Liam Artl hug each other after competing in the 12th Annual Firetruck Pull on March 22, 2025. Liam was diagnosed with leukemia but his mother said he has never let that slow him down. (Photo by Jack Bradshaw/Carolina News & Reporter)
Announcer and event founder Clay Owen engages with two teams as they face off in the intense firetruck pull competition. (Video by Calleen Soper/Carolina News & Reporter)
Father and son duo Winston and Justin Dilger-Ewing pull the rope during the 12th Annual Firetruck Pull on March 22, 2025. The two competed with Chad’s Strength, a group led by Robbie Stevens and dedicated to the memory of his late son. (Photo By Jack Bradshaw/Carolina News & Reporter)
Three-year-old Asher and his mother Savannah Woodall high five the USC Equestrian Pulling for Asher team after the team won the costume contest at the 12th Annual Firetruck Pull on March 22, 2025. Asher’s team wore outfits and merchandise from the children’s television series “Bluey,” Asher’s favorite show. (Photo by Jack Bradshaw/Carolina News & Reporter)
More of Jack Bradshaw’s photos from the pediatric cancer event organized by Grainne and Clay Owen, founders of Curing Kids’ Cancer
ABOUT THE JOURNALISTS
Calleen Soper
Soper is a graduate student in the University of South Carolina’s multimedia journalism program. She finished a bachelor’s degree at the state’s Limestone University after moving south from her native Chicago. She completed an internship in sports broadcasting, covering four sports, in 2022. Soper plans to pursue a career in sports.
Jack Bradshaw
Bradshaw is a visual communications major and photographer covering USC and the greater Columbia area, capturing everything from protests and local politics, to festivals, events and Gamecocks sports. With a passion for impactful storytelling, he aspires to take his work to Washington, DC, where he hopes to cover politics on a national stage.
