As she watched and cheered on teams trying to pull a FedEx Boeing 727 on Saturday, Maya Gifford's description of the action at Augusta Regional Airport was straight to the point.

"This is the coolest thing I've seen, people trying to pull a large plane," said the 13-year-old. "It's funny to see what they are wearing and how each team tries to pull differently."

Maya was among the spectators who came to the inaugural Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta plane pull to cheer on 27 teams -- each with 20 members -- as they attempted to pull 193,000 pounds of plane 12 feet in the least amount of time.

Betts Murdison, the executive director of the local Ronald McDonald House, was pleased with the turnout.

"This event has pulled together people from all walks of life to support the families we serve," she said. "It's really awesome how excited everyone is to be here. They understand that it takes a lot of people and a lot of support to take care of our kids and their families."

A team of pediatricians from the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center was one of the teams that participated in the fundraiser.

"The Ronald McDonald house is an integral part of our support," said Jack Borders, a pediatric ear, nose and throat doctor. "This was our way of saying 'thank you' for all that they do for us."

Wearing togas, a team comprised of students from MCG and a few engineers also gave the plane a pull.

"It's a fun way to give back. It's not everyday you get a chance to pull a plane," said CiCi Zollo, captain of the Snakes on a Plane in Togas team, which placed second in the hospital group category.

The overall winner and the winner of the business category was a team from Ipswitch, a software company. They pulled the plane in 12.022 seconds.

Hope on a Rope, a team of doctors and nurses from the MCG Children's Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, won the hospital group category with a time of 15.509 seconds.

The Munchkins were the winners of the community group category with a time of 13.675 seconds.

The biggest head wind winner was Sara's Soldiers, a team organized in memory of a girl named Sara who died of cancer.

A.D. Pilots, the Alpha Delta Pi sorority from Augusta State University, won the best dressed award for their pilot outfits and the biggest heart award for raising the most money as a team -- more than $1,800.

The money raised from the event will go toward the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta's programs and services.