Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk to honor first responders and military personnel
The Floridant/10343189

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- As communities across the nation commemorate the 25^th anniversary this year of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Southwest Florida will unite in remembrance during the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in September. The event honors the sacrifice of first responders and military heroes while supporting the families and survivors they leave behind.

The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. The event benefits the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Locally, the Run & Walk is chaired by Taylor Carpet One's Lauren Taylor.

The Tunnel to Towers run and walk was founded in honor of the late Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who lost his life while fighting to save others in the World Trade Center tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. The event symbolizes Siller's run through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on 9/11, which had been closed for security purposes immediately after the attack. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he lost his life while saving others.

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Registration for the run and walk is divided into four categories:

• Adult Registration (ages 18+)

o        $40 - Price increases to $45 after Aug. 11

• First Responders & Military Registration (ages 18+)

o        $30 - Price increases to $35 after Aug. 11

• Youth Registration (ages 13-17)

o        $20 - Price increases to $25 after Aug. 11

• Child Registration (ages 12 and under)

o        $15 - Price increases to $20 after Aug. 11

The 2025 event in Southwest Florida event raised $50,000. To commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Taylor has set a goal of raising $25,000 more for a total of $75,000 this year. To register for the event or make a secure online donation, visit RunSignup.com/Race/Info/FL/FortMyers/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkFortMyersFL.

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This year, in addition to its nationwide runs and walks and in recognition of the 25^th anniversary, the foundation is transporting a traveling exhibit, Steel Across America, to communities across the United States. Started in May and finishing on 9/11, an authentic steel beam from the World Trade Center is visiting landmark locations, sporting events and town squares, creating moments of connection for those who lived through 9/11 and educational opportunities for those too young to remember. This journey represents more than remembrance – it's a bridge between generations and a reminder that the spirit of service embodied by Siller, and so many others, continues to inspire Americans today.