Staff Writer

Punky Noble and Ernie Lowell are all smiles when they talk about watching children experience their first tractor ride – especially when those children spend most of their time in the hospital struggling to get well.

This weekend they will stand on the sidelines once again as children who have or will receive wishes from the Make-A-Wish Foundation climb on mini-tractors to participate in a tractor pull. The third annual event hosted by the Southern Maine Garden Tractor Club raises money for the Maine chapter of the foundation.

The tractor pull is set to begin at 9 a.m. Sunday at 448 Boom Road in Saco. After a brief instructional meeting, each “wish kid” will drive a tractor pulling a weighted sled with assistance from club members. At the end of the run, children receive a trophy for their efforts. A pedal tractor will be available for children too young to drive a motorized tractor.

“I like to see their cute little faces grinning. It’s like earning a paycheck. We get our job done,” said Noble, who is club president.

Lowell, chairman of the event committee, said club members work hard to put on the event, which also features a free barbecue and a visit from the world’s largest fire truck, owned by Shaw Bros. Construction of Gorham. After a morning of tractor pulls and demonstrations, Lowell, an auctioneer, will lead an auction of donated items.

Lowell said Flaherty Family Farm of Scarborough donated two truckloads of flowers; others have donated antiques, homemade quilts and an antique tractor. People are welcome to bring anything they would like to donate and he will auction it off. A concert will follow the auction.

The event raised $1,400 its first year and $6,300 last year, Lowell said. Lisa Gleeson, communications manager for Make-A-Wish Maine, said the organization grants a wish in Maine every five days for an average of 70 wishes per year. Each wish, granted to a child with a life-threatening illness, costs about $6,000.

Gleeson said fundraisers like the one in Saco have “an immense impact on granting wishes.”

“We rely on these donors because it raises money and spreads the word,” she said.

Eileen Chretien, volunteer director for Make-A-Wish in Maine, said she has gone to the tractor pulling event each year.

“They’re wonderful people at the tractor club. The kids from the club give over their tractors to the wish kids,” she said. “They have huge hearts.”

Chretien said it is fun to watch the children participate in a pull. Many have never competed in a competitive event and most take home their first ever trophy, she said.

“Their eyes get wide and they laugh and smile a lot. To them, they’re driving these things,” she said. “It’s wonderful. The wish kids feel very, very special and important throughout the day.”

For Noble and Lowell, making the kids feel special is as important as raising money for the foundation.

“It gives them a day away from the medical field and to think about themselves,” Noble said.

“This is twofold. The little children get to have fun. It’s their day. The other side of the coin is we raise lots of money for Make-A-Wish. It’s great to think we can provide a wish,” Lowell said. “They take good memories home with them. We’re just pulling for the kids.”

For more information visit www.southernmainegardentractorclub.com. More information about Make-A-Wish Foundation is available at www.mainewish.org and on the foundation’s Facebook page.