2008 Woodie Awards
Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk Provides Eye-Opening Experience for Women's Basketball Team
Brian Granata
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
On Sunday, September 24, 12 players and two coaches of the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team participated in the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk in honor of Stephen Siller - a firefighter who was killed on September 11, 2001 as he attempted to save lives at the World Trade Center. The annual 3.1-mile run follows the path he took through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with 75 pounds of gear on his back. The tunnel is the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America and connects south Brooklyn and Manhattan's Wall Street area.
Second-year head coach Jon Hochberg (Woodstock, N.Y.) and six student-athletes volunteered their time serving food to race competitors at the festival near the finish line. Meanwhile, third-year assistant coach Mark Burger (Hoboken, N.J.) and six players ran in the event, which had photos of the 343 firefighters that were killed on September 11 displayed throughout the race route.
The day proved to be an eye-opening experience for several members of the Ducks. In fact, sophomore Dani Dudek (Rockaway, N.J.) and freshman Brianne Lavin (Farmingdale, N.J.) had the opportunity to shake hands with Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani once they crossed the finish line.
"The atmosphere of the race was incredible and truly overwhelming," Dudek said. "The feeling of running through the tunnel with army reserves running along side you chanting their songs and firemen lined up along the entire tunnel cheering you on while holding the American flag made it an experience that I will never forget. And as if that wasn't enough, we had the full visual of firemen reenacting the whole incident by running in their actual gear, an event so moving it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was a remarkable experience and something I would love to do every year from here on out."
Freshman Brittany Fuller (East Rockaway, N.Y.) echoed Dudek's sentiments.
"Being from New York, it was especially personal for me to run in honor of someone who gave his life while trying to help save the lives of others on September 11," Fuller stated. "Although the run was crowded and difficult, the tremendous support from everyone really pushed me to finish. The run helped remind me how great our country is and how much patriotism is still out there even five years after the terrorist attacks."
According to freshman Sarah Gehring (Spokane, Wash.), "The run was awesome. I felt like there was camaraderie between everyone that ran. When you saw someone walking, you would help them through it, and the others would do the same for you. It was a run that stood for everything that we as Americans pride ourselves in. I loved it."
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk is designed to raise money for a children's foundation named for the 34-year-old Siller.
Second-year head coach Jon Hochberg (Woodstock, N.Y.) and six student-athletes volunteered their time serving food to race competitors at the festival near the finish line. Meanwhile, third-year assistant coach Mark Burger (Hoboken, N.J.) and six players ran in the event, which had photos of the 343 firefighters that were killed on September 11 displayed throughout the race route.
The day proved to be an eye-opening experience for several members of the Ducks. In fact, sophomore Dani Dudek (Rockaway, N.J.) and freshman Brianne Lavin (Farmingdale, N.J.) had the opportunity to shake hands with Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani once they crossed the finish line.
"The atmosphere of the race was incredible and truly overwhelming," Dudek said. "The feeling of running through the tunnel with army reserves running along side you chanting their songs and firemen lined up along the entire tunnel cheering you on while holding the American flag made it an experience that I will never forget. And as if that wasn't enough, we had the full visual of firemen reenacting the whole incident by running in their actual gear, an event so moving it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was a remarkable experience and something I would love to do every year from here on out."
Freshman Brittany Fuller (East Rockaway, N.Y.) echoed Dudek's sentiments.
"Being from New York, it was especially personal for me to run in honor of someone who gave his life while trying to help save the lives of others on September 11," Fuller stated. "Although the run was crowded and difficult, the tremendous support from everyone really pushed me to finish. The run helped remind me how great our country is and how much patriotism is still out there even five years after the terrorist attacks."
According to freshman Sarah Gehring (Spokane, Wash.), "The run was awesome. I felt like there was camaraderie between everyone that ran. When you saw someone walking, you would help them through it, and the others would do the same for you. It was a run that stood for everything that we as Americans pride ourselves in. I loved it."
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk is designed to raise money for a children's foundation named for the 34-year-old Siller.
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