(If you would like to Sponsor me click http://www.active.com/donate/tunneltotowersrun09/jlevitsk )

The run follows the footsteps of Stephen Siller, a FDNY firefighter, who was on his way to meet his brothers for a golf game on the morning of 9-11. Stephen heard the call on his personal scanner and turned his car around in Brooklyn to respond off-duty. After stopping at his station in Brooklyn to get his gear, he was stopped at the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, as so many others were, and could drive no further. Stephen chose to throw his 80 lbs of fire fighting gear on his back, abandon his car and run through the tunnel to the World Trade Center. Stephen became one of the 343 firemen lost on that day. He is survived by his wife and five small children and his six brothers and sisters. After months of being consumed by grief, the Siller family made a decision to celebrate Stephen’s life. They called the City of New York and asked if they could shut down the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel once a year and run a race to follow their brother’s footsteps. To their disbelief, the city immediately said yes. Today, the entire race is still run 100% by volunteers of the Siller family and is not a corporate-run race. The money raised goes to the Stephen Siller, FDNY, “Let Us Do Good” Children’s foundation. This foundation benefits children who have lost one or both parents. With 22,000 participants in 2007 & 2008, the foundation has raised millions of dollars and has benefitted orphans including, but not limited to, orphans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and Hurricane Katrina in addition to orphans local to the New York City area.

The Sillers line the tunnel with 343 American Flags representing each fireman lost. It is also lined with 343 banners, each printed with the face and name of each one of the firemen lost. The flag bearers are all firemen, police officers and construction workers representing the largest groups of people lost on that day. Firemen from all over the world come to the race and run in their turnouts to emulate Stephen’s last footsteps. London Fire Brigade has sent over 200 firefighters and family members for several years in a row.

Please see the host group (link on the right-hand side of the page) to see photos, videos and communicate further with other participants.

Please refer to the official website: www.TunnelToTowersRun.org for further details

(If you would like to Sponsor me click http://www.active.com/donate/tunneltotowersrun09/jlevitsk )