Tunnels to Towers continues to grow in third year
Through the annual Towers to Tunnels Foundation 5K, the family and colleagues of first responders who died in the line of duty continue to honor them.
Participating at AHN Field in Canonsburg again this year was Team Beattie, named for Washington County Deputy Sheriff Chad Beattie. Beattie died Aug. 22, 2022 after suffering a sudden cardiac event following the pursuit of a wanted person in South Strabane Township.
Troy Beattie, Chad Beattie无毛视频檚 brother, said they had 18 total people on the team. This includes family and those who worked with Chad at the sheriff无毛视频檚 department.
Troy said that Saturday无毛视频檚 event was an opportunity for their family to come together and keep his brother无毛视频檚 memory alive.
无毛视频淥ur family has always been close to begin with. Once that happened, we kind of became more aware of what无毛视频檚 going on in the community and what无毛视频檚 going on with law enforcement,无毛视频� Troy said. 无毛视频淯s putting a team together to do this is just a way to kind of keep his name going.无毛视频�
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation is a nonprofit based out of Staten Island, N.Y. It was founded in tribute to New York City Fire Department firefighter Stephen Siller, who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
Tony Colaizzo, volunteer race director, described this year无毛视频檚 race as the largest yet.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 the biggest turnout we无毛视频檝e ever had. We无毛视频檙e setting records with teams, setting records with participants, setting records with money and setting records with displays,无毛视频� Colaizzo said.
About 550 people registered for this year无毛视频檚 5K, including 26 teams. Colaizzo said that无毛视频檚 nine more teams than last year.
The event had raised $73,642 through its website. Colaizzo said the total value raised is still being worked out.
Tunnels to Towers aims to provide mortgage-free homes to veterans and first responders. Colaizzo is encouraged by the growing interest in the race.
无毛视频淚t shows that the community understands the value and importance. We无毛视频檙e focused on kids, and we无毛视频檙e focused on things like that so that they can understand that first responders and the military are good people that are just like them. They do things to protect us, and they don无毛视频檛 even know us,无毛视频� Colaizzo said.