The 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is just two days away, but the memories of what happened are already on the minds of many at a 9/11 memorial run and walk at Genesee Valley Park.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The 11th anniversary of the September 11th attacks is just two days away, but the memories of what happened are already on the minds of many at a 9/11 memorial run and walk at Genesee Valley Park.

"For me I recently got hired at the fire department, one of my instructors in the fire academy was a FDNY guy that passed away that day, so this has a lot of significance for me," said Lisa Bubel, Rochester City Firefighter.

"I remember the friends I had that died that day and have died since serving our nation. So today is a day of reflection and I think for the community a sense of coming together," said Robert Nixon, Retired Major General of the United States Army.

Dozens came together to take part in Rochester's first Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run.
Siller was one of the 343 firefighters that lost his life in the towers.

"He got off work that day on 9/11 and he heard about the plane going into the twin towers and instead of going home he drove his truck back to the station house where he wanted to meet up with his squad," said Michele Myers, Race Director.

Siller ended up running from the Battery-Brooklyn Tunnel to the towers in his gear. His story inspired Myers to bring the nationwide run to this community.

"The run is in honor of our first responders, the EMS, the firefighters, our police officers," said Myers.

Myers says there are sixty Tunnel to Towers runs taking place all over the country this weekend. She says the goal is for there to one day be 343.

The event raised money for the Siller Foundation and local veterans of the Warrior Salute program. For some who participated, running was a way to unite and reflect.

"We just think it's important to remember the victims even a decade later," said Caurie Putnam, of Brockport.

Tunnel to Towers Run