New York, NY - September 12, 2016 - The patriotic sacrifice and selfless courage of 9/11’s fallen heroes will be honored during the 15th annual Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers (T2T) 5K Run & Walk in New York City on Sunday, September 25, 2016, starting at 9:30 a.m. An expected 30,000 will retrace the final footsteps of Stephen Siller, the late FDNY firefighter who made the ultimate sacrifice during his heroic efforts to rescue survivors of the September 11 terrorist attack in New York City. In its 15th consecutive year, the event has become a beloved tribute to not just the 343 firefighters, but all the first responders who selflessly laid down their lives that day.
Runners from all across the world, including as far away as England, are expected to embark upon New York City to participate in the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. Since the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s inception in 2001, this annual event and other related fundraising activities have raised more than $70 million for its various initiatives and programs, including supporting our nation’s catastrophically injured service members through the Building for America’s Bravest program. Through the program, the Foundation builds custom smart homes for injured servicemen. At the current time, 56 homes have been delivered, are under construction or are in the design stage.
Event highlights include:
- Post run party/BBQ
- Event T-Shirt for all race participants (first come, first serve).
- Free concert featuring pop star Rachel Platten. Platten’s triple-platinum selling single “Fight Song” rose to number one on adult pop radio before being succeeded by her second platinum selling hit, “Stand by You.” (Any individual watching the concert this year must have a runners bib to gain entrance.)
- Pre-run ceremony featuring an official retirement of Siller the dog, an explosives detection dog who has been working at John F. Kennedy International Airport with his handler, Chris Neeson.
“Over the years. I’ve watched this Run/Walk evolve into both an annual celebration of everyone who gave their lives that day, as well as a life-affirming event for the future of this great nation,” said Frank Siller, one of Stephen’s siblings and chairman of the Foundation. “With the help of volunteers, donations and dedication, we are proud to have the opportunity to honor Stephen and all of his firefighter brothers in this special way.”
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk is open to the public. Registration is required and participants can visit www.t2trun.org for more information on how to run/walk or volunteer. Online registration will remain open until September 24 at 11:59 p.m. Participants are encouraged to create their own “T2T” fundraising page online, which allows participants to:
- Share their personal or team pages via social media — or encourage friends and family to help them reach their fundraising goals via email!
- Fundraise and earn Tunnel to Towers 15th Anniversary items including a commemorative challenge coin, hat, exclusive performance tech t-shirt and a commemorative windbreaker.
Participants can also register in-person the day of the run. Race day registration will take place at the IKEA parking lot in Brooklyn between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Participants may purchase timing chips online only through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2016. After September 19 and through September 24, a timing chip can be obtained only if you register in person at any registration site. Timing chips are not available to those registering on race day.
The run starts at 9:30 a.m. sharp on the Brooklyn side of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly known as the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel) in New York City. The run begins at Hamilton Avenue and Richards Street, then goes through the Tunnel, north onto West Street, left onto Liberty Street, to Battery Park Esplanade, right (east) on Warren Street, right (south) onto West Street and finishes at West and Murray Streets, across from the World Trade Center with one block as walk off area to Vesey Street.
Please note: the MTA & NYPD absolutely prohibits any backpacks, strollers, bags, water bottles and bicycles in tunnel. This will be strictly enforced. For additional details please check the FAQ page.
Although named after Stephen, the Run was created to honor the lives of the 343 firefighters who died during the September 11 terrorist attack, as well as pay special tribute to all the policemen, EMTs, construction workers and special people who lost their lives in their quest to save others.
As always, the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk is made possible by the support of literally thousands of volunteers including The Home Depot Foundation, presenting sponsor for the event. Other generous sponsors and supporters include GMC, Johnson & Johnson, Carpet One, CBS2 New York, UPS, Bracewell & Giuliani, Southeast Friends of Stephen Siller, Profit One, New York Jets, Fresh 102.7, WCBSFM 101.1, 92.3 NOW, WCBS News Radio 880, 1010 WINS, WFAN 66 AM and Semper Fi Fund, among others.
For more information on the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk, please visit Tunnel2Towers.org; or find the organization on Facebook at Tunnel to Towers Foundation and on Twitter @Tunnel2Towers.
About The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a charitable organization set up to follow the footsteps of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001, carrying 60 pounds of gear on his back, to rescue his fellow New Yorkers. Siller lost his life when the towers collapsed, leaving his wife, five children and six siblings to carry on his memory and share his story. One of the primary missions of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is to honor the military members who have been seriously injured and sacrificed their quality of life in the line of duty. We believe that the Foundation is a real and concrete way to Follow the Footsteps of an American hero. The Foundation has established the LEGACY OF LOVE and NEVER FORGET programs as our way to make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of others. These programs, together with the Foundation’s Building for America’s Bravest program, bring hope to grieving children and healing to firefighters and our nation’s most catastrophically injured service members, who sacrifice life and limb in the line of duty. To find out more about the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, please visit www.Tunnel2Towers.org.