Tunnel to Towers 5K Draws Over 40,000 Participants Despite Nor'easter
The 25th annual event honoring 9/11 victims saw a sold-out turnout, with participants braving challenging weather conditions.
More than 40,000 participants converged on New York City on Sunday, September 27, 2026, for the 25th annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. The event, which honors FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller and the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, was sold out, with participants braving a nor'easter that brought rain and strong winds.
The run, which begins in Staten Island and culminates in Manhattan after participants pass through the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel), is a significant annual tribute.
Many participants wore firefighter gear or carried banners and portraits of fallen heroes, underscoring the event's solemn purpose. A steel beam from the World Trade Center's South Tower was also carried on a truck as part of the procession.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was established to honor Stephen Siller, who died on September 11, 2001, after running through the tunnel to Manhattan to help evacuate people following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The foundation's mission extends to supporting first responders and military service members and their families.
Despite the inclement weather, the overwhelming turnout highlighted the enduring significance of the event and its role in remembering those lost on 9/11.