Thousands of runners filled the streets of New York City, retracing the courageous steps of a firefighter who gave his life on September 11, 2001. The annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk drew 30,000 participants to honor fallen FDNY hero Stephen Siller and to raise millions for families of fallen first responders and injured veterans.

Siller, a firefighter with Brooklyn’s Squad 1, raced on foot from the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers after the terror attacks began. He carried 60 pounds of gear, determined to save lives, but lost his own in the process. His story has become a powerful symbol of sacrificial love—one that reflects Jesus’ own words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, created in Stephen’s memory, has grown over the past 24 years into a nationwide movement of compassion. Funds from this year’s race will help provide mortgage-free homes for the families of fallen first responders and high-tech “smart homes” for catastrophically injured veterans.

“This event is the cornerstone of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation: It’s how we honored the life of my brother Stephen in 2002, and it remains a moving tribute to all of those lost on 9/11, 24 years later,” said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the foundation. “Each year, people from around the country and the world come to New York to help us fulfill our mission to NEVER FORGET.”

This year, that mission drew support from across the globe. More than 50 French firefighters traveled to New York to run in solidarity.

Though donations continue to roll in, the foundation has already topped $2.4 million from corporate sponsors and individual fundraisers, far surpassing early goals.

For many, the race isn’t just about fundraising—it’s deeply personal. Police officer Keegan Muldowney led a team called the “Muldowney Moondogs” to honor his cousin, FDNY firefighter Ritchie “Moondog” Muldowney, who died on 9/11 while serving with Ladder 7 in Manhattan.

The team raised a record-breaking $135,000 this year, tripling their 2024 total.

“The good that Frank Siller and the Siller family do for catastrophically wounded veterans and the families of fallen first responders … is such a powerful message to send to Americans that everybody we talk to wants to help,” Muldowney said.

He explained that his team’s fundraising efforts now stretch throughout the year, with events in Florida, Long Island, and the Adirondack Mountains. And for him, it’s not just about numbers—it’s about the next generation.

“Educating the next generation on the sacrifices that were given before us is as important as anything else that we’re doing right now,” he said. “The true meaning of ‘Never Forget’ … is that the next generation needs to be educated, and also never forget.”

The Tunnel to Towers Run is more than a race—it’s a living testimony that love is stronger than hate, and that the memory of sacrifice must be carried forward. As thousands crossed the finish line in lower Manhattan, they honored not only Stephen Siller but also every firefighter, police officer, EMT, and service member who gave their all.