Runners change kids of 9.11 heroes' lives with Pentagon to Ground Zero marathon
A team of 9/11 memorial runners make an epic 240mile journey from The Pentagon to Ground Zero every year.
Launched by Jennifer Depoto in 2016, the 9.11 Promise run had humble beginnings with just seven runners making the mammoth run from Washington to New York's Ground Zero. Now the event sees tens of groups run in memory of their own fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price for their life-saving efforts in 2001.
As well as an incredible display of commitment and strength in honouring the memory of lost loved ones, the run raises money for the children of all fallen heroes who have died in the line of duty - with the funds used to help with future scholarships.
Erin Cunnigham, part of the organisation team, said making the journey each year acts as a pledge never to forget those who died while protecting others. She told the Mirror: "The first one started in 2016, with just seven runners. It was essentially seven friends who decided to make the 240mile from the Pentagon to Ground Zero.
"It was more of a memorial event then, while trying to raise a bit of awareness and money. However, it was decided people's amazing running efforts should be harnessed and used for a good cause. Now we raise money for the children of fallen first responders.
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Runners carry flags as they continue their epic marathon from The Pentagon to Ground Zero (the911promise/Instagram)"It's a mission and we all enjoy the camaraderie of the day. It's a promise to never forget that day. Every penny we raise also goes entirely to the cause. We also pledge to use the money to help any child of any fallen military parent."
As part of the fundraising run, the team are also helped by first responders as they sleep in fire houses over the course of two nights. In 2019, a bike event was added to the 9.11 Promise fundraising drive, with the team's website explaining: The Bike athletes start at the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial alongside the Run athletes on September 9th of each year. While the Run athletes make their journey to New York, the Bike athletes make a journey to the United Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA where they, too, finish on September 11th."
This year, a team of bikers are making the 200mile journey in memory of Roy Chelsen - who survived 9/11 before being diagnosed with cancer caused by toxins at Ground Zero. Tragically, following a search for a stem cell donor, Roy died just a month after his transplant, paying the ultimate price for his bravery on 9/11 and the weeks of rescue and recovery work at 9/11.
Runners raise thousands to help the children of fallen heroes with school scholarships (the911promise/Instagram)His death came a week after then-President Obama signed the $4.2 billion Zadroga bill, which will provide health care to thousands of survivors and first responders of the terrorist attacks. James Zadroga was a New York City Police Department officer who died of a respiratory disease attributed to his participation in rescue and recovery operations in the rubble of the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks.
His wife Trish told Q104: "Roy was in the dust cloud and literally just got out the building and he was then diagnosed with myeloma and he summed to a very painful death. Roy was a very strong person and the FDNY guys looked up to him. If Roy couldn't survive then what does that mean for us?"
The team run for three days across two states as part of their mission to never forget and help the loves of children who have lost a parent in the line of duty (the911promise/Instagram)
As well as an incredible display of commitment and strength in honouring the memory of lost loved ones, the run raises money for the children of all fallen heroes who have died in the line of duty (the911promise/Instagram)Trish now heads up the Be A Hero for A Hero Foundation, a charitable organisational founded in 2010. Roy's story was one of thousands who ended up with a devastating cancer diagnosis. Roy Chelsen's bravery and tragic legacy helped change the healthcare passage for Ground Zero first responders.
An estimated 410,000 first responders, cleanup crews, and survivors spent days and weeks breathing in air heavy with toxins from 400 tons of crushed concrete, glass, and asbestos at Ground Zero. Chelsen's story played into the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, making U.S. law to provide health monitoring and aid to the first responders, volunteers, and survivors.
To donate to the 9.11 Promise event, click here - while donations t the Roy Chelsen biking event can be made here.
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