ROBERTA NEE ADAMS storyJeff Reed photos

The annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk will take place this Saturday, Sept. 6 in downtown Lynchburg. Participants can pick up their race packets Friday afternoon between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and will need to be on the square Saturday morning at 7 a.m. All participating will be given a race bib to wear, and all will receive a T-shirt.

The event began in 2011 in honor of New York Firefighter Stephen Siller. On September 11, 2001, Siller had just finished his shift and was headed to meet his brothers for a golf game when he heard the news about the plane crashing into the World Trade Center. He turned around to go back and help. While in the Brooklyn Battery Tower traffic had been stopped. He got out of his truck, put his sixty pounds of gear on his back, and ran on foot to help. Stephen lost his life helping others that day.

The events raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The foundation provides homes for families of fallen firefighters, financial support to injured first responders, smart homes for combat wounded veterans, and scholarships to children of heroes. In August, the foundation opened an 88-unit housing complex in Atlanta for homeless veterans, and has assisted over 10,000 other homeless veterans thus far.

The race will run the same course as last year’s event. The Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to handle traffic, and EMS will be on scene as well.

– Jeff Reed photo