Twenty-five years after 9/11, New York City hosts the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk, a public tribute that draws thousands of participants each September.
From modest start to national prominence
The race began in 2002 with roughly 1,500 runners. Over two decades, registration has swelled, and this year more than 40,000 people took part, placing the event among the country’s most popular 5Ks.
All entry fees are earmarked for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Corporate partners and their contributions
Mohawk and Carpet One have supported the foundation since its inception. Mohawk supplies both hard-surface and soft-flooring materials, while Carpet One members handle installation for custom-designed smart homes.
Board representatives Bill Gaddis and Theresa Fisher oversee the partnership, ensuring that flooring solutions meet the specific needs of catastrophically injured veterans and emergency workers.
Personal stories echo the day’s impact
One participant ran the course with his son, describing the tunnel exit as a moment filled with police and firefighters displaying banners of fallen colleagues.
New Yorkers often recount where they were on 9/11. The shared experience creates a network of memories that few can escape, whether through direct loss or connections to those who perished.
While traveling south on the Jersey Turnpike, a driver recalled a traffic jam and remarked, “Glad we’re not going north.” The comment showed the lingering anxiety that still follows the skyline’s changed silhouette.
Later, a radio broadcast featured Howard Stern discussing the plane impacts, emphasizing that the tragedy was not a fictional scenario. The reminder sparked vivid recollections among listeners who had lived through the attacks.
Elissa, daughter of a local businessman, spoke with a friend named Whitney Michaels who worked on the 103rd floor of Cantor Fitzgerald. Whitney married on September 8 and vanished on the morning of the attacks.
Another Cantor Fitzgerald employee, Brooke Jackman, was 23 when she died. Her family launched a literacy charity for disadvantaged children; more information is available at the Brooke Jackman Foundation.
Childhood memories of Radio Row resurfaced for a former participant whose grandparents lived near the future World Trade Center site. They watched the original towers rise, then later witnessed their destruction, an experience that shaped their view of the city’s resilience.
Building for America’s Bravest
The foundation’s Building for America’s Bravest program creates accessible homes equipped with adaptive technologies for veterans and first responders who sustained severe injuries.
These homes are constructed in collaboration with local contractors, providing both employment opportunities and a tangible reminder of community support for those who served.
Event timing and continued growth
The race takes place on the last Sunday of September, aligning with the solemn remembrance period that follows the attacks.
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