Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run and Climb

Despite COVID-19, the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K and Stair Climb in Biloxi was still able to go on.

Coasts through tuesday.

- - despite covid-19, the annual- tunnel to towers 5k and - stair climb in biloxi was still- able to go on as planned.

- news 25's grace boyles has more- about this 9/11 memorial event- and the story of why it was - started.- - 19 years ago, brooklyn- firefighter stephen siller was- just finishing up his - shift and was on his way to pla- - - - golf with his brothers when wor- of a plane hitting the north- tower of the world trade- center came over his scanner.

- siller called his wife and aske- - - - her to tell his brothers he - would catch up with them later,- he needed to go help at what- would eventually become ground- zero.

- justin lopez, tunnel to towers- 5k and climb co-director: "and he went back to - his firehouse.

Didn't have-- hi- crew had already left.

So, he - grabbed his gear, - - - - went back.

Tunnels were closed.- he couldn't get through the - tunnels.

So, he - parked right there at the foot- of the tunnel, for security - - - - reasons.

Put his gear on, 60- pounds, and went through the- tunnel running."

Siller lost his life in the - south tower while trying to sav- others.

- the tunnel to towers foundation- 5k symbolizes siller's trek - through what is formerly known- as the brooklyn battery tunnel- to the site of the twin towers.- several participants of biloxi'- - - - 6th annual tunnel to towers 5k- saturday paid homage to those - first resonders - who gave their lives to help- - - - during the attacks of 9/11 by - wearing gear during the run and- stair climb, including this - crew from the husser volunteer- fire department in- louisiana.- rona burkett, volunteer - firefighter: "we just wanted to honor the fallen- firefighters from 9/11.

As- firefighters ourselves, we- understand what they- might have possibly gone- through, so we just wanted to - honor them."

Grace boyles, news 25: "the second part of the tunnel to- towers 5k is the stair- climb.

Participants climb 22- floors of the margaritaville- resort 5 times for a total of - - - - 110 stories, the same number of- stories as each of the twin - towers in the world - trade center."

Dustin mcdonald,volunteer - firefighter: "you know, anybody that is public- service or is involved in this,- fire service, police service, - ems, what not, should - definitely do this at least - once, with gear or without.

It'- just an experience, something - that you can't describe or- explain.

It's something that yo- kinda, not- necessarily-- you're not in - their shoes because you don't - know what they went - through, but it kinda brings yo- to a place where you can- understand a little - better."

Lopez brought the event to- - - - biloxi to make sure the - sacrifices so many americans- made on 9/11 were always- remembered.

- justin lopez, tunnel to towers- 5k and climb co-director: "i felt, along with some other - firemenm, we thought 9/11 was - getting kinda forgotten, more - pushed off into the distance an- it would just be once a year.

- now, we do stuff throughout the- year like hurricane relief, - helping out, and we do the firs- responder - program-- like fallen first - responder program like biloxi - officer mckeithen, we - did a funderaiser-- -