THREE firefighters will travel from York to New York later this month to take part in a fundraising run to mark the tenth anniversary of the terrorist suicide attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Stephen Barlow, Andrew Daw and Stephen Howley, along with friends Matthew Wain and Matt Murphy, will join up to 50,000 runners in the Tower To Tunnel run.
Stephen Barlow said the 3.3 mile annual run, on September 25, was established to pay tribute to the heroism of one New York firefighter, Stephen Siller, who was unable to get his fire engine through a closed tunnel to reach the twin towers after they were hit by airliners in the September 11 attacks, pictured inset.
With his gear still strapped to his back, the firefighter ran through the tunnel to get to the towers, but was never seen again, becoming one of 343 New York firefighters who died that day Stephen said the York runners would be raising money for the Stephen Siller Foundation set up in his name, and also for the Firefighters Charity in Britain, which helps serving and retired fire service personnel and their families.
Stephen Barlow said he had taken part in the run last year, finishing 286th, and planned to run in running gear again in an attempt to complete the route as quickly as possible. However, his two colleagues from York’s Clifford Street fire station would be running in their full firefighter’s gear.
Meanwhile, the runners’ fundraising efforts are set to be boosted tomorrow when the Cutting Station hair salon in Walmgate waives its usual charges for haircuts and instead asks for charitable donations of a minimum of £5.
Salon owner Sharon Cottrell, the fiancee of Matt Murphy, said she and her two hairdressers, Katherine Chipchase and Jess Widgery, would be working for nothing all day, from 8.30am to 3.30pm, to raise the money. Appointments were not needed.
Heroic acts of all firefighters
SUNDAY marks the 10th anniversary of an act of unspeakable terror. We watched in horror as on a bright sunny morning in New York City, four airliners approached.
What followed was one of those moments in history that we will always remember where we were. One that hit home in a particularly poignant way.
Rudy Giuliani, the city’s Mayor, said on the day; “The number of casualties will be more than most of us can bear.” He was right. 2,996 people died in the 11 September attacks and among them were 341 firefighters.
In Old York, firefighters began fundraising activities to help the families. Today they still do and later this month, Stephen Barlow, Andrew Daw and Stephen Howley from Clifford Street fire station will join 50,000 runners in New York’s fundraising Tower To Tunnel run.
It was established in honour of Stephen Siller who, unable to get his fire engine through a closed tunnel, ran towards the Twin Towers with his gear strapped to his back, but was never seen again.
York’s firefighters will hopefully never witness an atrocity to match 9/11, but every time the alarm sounds they also put their lives on the line, not knowing what to expect. Like their colleagues in New York, they are heroes and we applaud them for their fundraising efforts, both for New York firefighters’ families and for those back home.
We wish them every success and hope they raise plenty of cash.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here