Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk - Ft. Lauderdale, FL; relocated to Sunrise, FL

What is a Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk? 

The Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk Series was created to honor the heroic life and death of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter (FDNY) who lost his life on September 11, 2001 after strapping on his gear and running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. We honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and support our first responders and military who make extraordinary sacrifices in the line of duty. For more information on the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation please visit www.t2t.org.

We are excited to bring together the community once again in Sunrise, to honor first responders and military, to remember 9/11, and to raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s programs. We have changed locations and are excited to be in Sunrise, Florida; however, our spirit and love for our first responders and South Florida remain the same.  We are excited to be back this year!

How far is a Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk? 

This is a 5K (3.1 miles) to walk or run this event. Anyone of any age can run, walk, or experience this event.

Where can I pick up my race packet?

Packet Pick-up will be Friday, September 8, 2023, at Dick's Sporting Goods located in the Sawgrass Mills Mall.

TIME:  2:00PM - 6:00PM   MUST HAVE VALID PHOTO ID

Can I register the day of the run? 

Yes. Registration will open at 5:45am the morning of the run. You’ll save time and money if you register online before we close the website. Those who wait to register on the day of the run will pay an additional $10. In addition, if you wait to register we may not have a shirt for you and we do not guarantee sizes for late registrants.

When does online registration close? 

Online registration will remain open up until race morning until the race begins.

Is there parking available? 

Yes

Do I have to wear my bib number? 

Yes, please display your bib on the front of your outermost garment. Those who run without a bib will be asked to leave the course and will not be allowed to finish.

What is the First Responder Team Challenge?

By registering with this option, you are registering to compete for a team award with your fellow department members.  When you register with this registration option "First Responder Team Challenge", you will be prompted from a drop-down menu to type in your team location name (ie: Broward Sheriff Department, Broward Fired Department, Ft. Lauderdale Fire Department (please use full names so teams can be grouped accurately). All teams must be registered and finalized 24 hours prior to the race; No Same Day Entries Will Be Allowed. 

There are three types of First Responder Team Competition:   Fire Fighters, Law Enforcement and Military. Each team must have a minimum of 4 participants and be in full uniform to qualify.

For Firefighters: The Stephen G. Siller Steel Award: This stately award will display a piece of the Twin Towers steel and can be won by the fire department which has a team of 4 or more participate by running in turnout gear.

Uniform Requirements: Minimum standard includes liner, pants, jacket, and helmet. Boots and tanks should not be worn for safety reasons. 

Please Note: We will allow the teams to consist of as many team members that have registered under a specific team name to compete, however we will only be calculating the four fastest times (in full gear) from each team for the team’s total. The team with the fastest combined time will win the award and will have it to display in their station until the next year's run, at which time the award will be transferred to the next winning team. Win it again, and the team keeps it for another year!

For Law Enforcement: The Stephen G Siller Heroes Award: This award will be won by the fastest team of Law Enforcement running in gear.  The same description regarding number of participants and calculation applies here as noted above for the Fire Fighter competition.

Uniform Requirements: Minimum standard includes approved uniform (can be summer uniform), gun belt, and body armor.

For Military: The Stephen G Siller Patriot Award: This award will be won by the fastest team of Military branch running in gear.  The same description regarding number of participants and calculation applies here as noted above for the Fire Fighter competition.

Uniform Requirements: Minimum standard includes approved uniform (can be summer uniform), gun belt, and body armor.

I am a fast runner. Can I get a front line position? 

Runners predicting a pace faster than a 7 minute/mile will be seeded in the front corral (arrive early).

Will there be awards for running? 

Yes, we keep them very simple since our mission is to honor first responders. Most of our awards are based on firefighters, police or military running in gear in the same fashion that Stephen Siller did on 9/11. This event is intended to be an experience and much more than a run.  The event will be chip timed.

Will water be available? 

Yes, a water station will be available along the route and there will be water available at the start / finish.

What can you bring to the event? Can I run with a stroller, backpack, wheelchair, roller blades, bicycle, etc? 

Strollers and wheelchairs are permitted. Firefighter turnout gear and military backpacks are also permitted and are in fact encouraged. Roller blades and bicycles are not permitted on the course. Please leave all personal items and valuables in your vehicle. All items should be stored securely at the owner's risk. Tunnel to Towers Foundation will not be responsible for the loss of any items.

Can I bring my dog to the event?

Yes. Friendly dogs on a leash are allowed to participate with you in the race. 

Does my registration fee count towards my fundraising goal? 

No. Your registration fee does not count toward the fundraising goal.

Can someone else pick up my packet for me? 

Yes, they can. They must present a copy of your registration receipt. 

Can I still donate to a team and/or individual after the start of the race? 

Yes. Donations will be accepted for 6 weeks after the event.

How can my company/organization sponsor this event? 

Please send all sponsorship correspondence to ftlauderdale@t2t.org with your contact information and someone will be in touch with you within 24 hours.

I would like to donate goods or services to this event. How do I do that? 

You can contact us at ftlauderdale@t2t.org. We make every effort to keep costs down to allow us to give the most to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Stephen Siller's name. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.

As a participant, can I fundraise/encourage others to donate? 

Yes! Once you are registered, you will be given directions to start your own fundraising page and you will be able to accept donations online. Do you want to donate cash/money? We can help you with that. Contact us at ftlauderdale@t2t.org and we can walk you through the process or you can send donations directly to our Headquarters: ATTN: FtLauderdale5K - 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. If you do this please send us an email so we can add it to your fundraising page. Thank you!

Where can I mail an OFFLINE donation (check made payable to Tunnel to Towers Foundation)?

Please mail any offline donations to:

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Attn:  T2T FtLauderdale5K/Matt M.  

2361 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10306

Can I transfer my registration to another participant? 

Yes. Contact us at ftlauderdale@t2t.org and we will manually change it in our system. Transfers must be received before Thursday, September 7th. 

Running with someone else’s bib without notifying the race directors or timing company is a safety issue and is not permitted. Should something happen to you out on the race course, we need to ensure you receive the appropriate care and the appropriate emergency contact is reached. If you are caught running with someone else’s bib, you will be asked to leave.

Can I get a refund? 

We do not provide refunds for the event regardless if you cannot make the date or the foundation needs to cancel the event for extenuating circumstances. Registration may be transferred to another person. 

How can I volunteer? 

It's simple! Sign up on our RunSignUp page: Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale Tunnel to Towers 5K Run Walk.  Volunteers are always needed for the day of festivities and for pre-race setup as well. Thank you!

Do registrants get receipts? 

Yes. After you register online you will automatically receive a receipt.

Is there a medical staff available on-site? 

Yes, there will be an Emergency Medical Service team available on site. There is also radio communication available on the course to help us communicate with the EMS team.

What safety measures are you taking in regards to COVID-19?

We will be abiding by all local and state guidelines. 

Does Tunnel to Towers offer fundraising incentives? 

Yes, we offer fundraising incentives each year; check out our latest in our Fundraising Guide. To qualify, complete your fundraising by mid November 2023 for fall events.