SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - On Nov. 1, about 300 participants ran in Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s fifth annual 5k Run & Walk in William Land Park.
   

The race series, which takes place each year in cities across the United States including New York City and Fort Worth, raises funds and awareness for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, whose mission is to honor the sacrifice of New York City firefighter and father Stephen Siller who gave up his life to save others in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Tunnel to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children.

In recent years, the foundation has expanded beyond helping families impacted by 9/11, to all first responder and military families with young children. 

Michele Schroeder, Sacramento’s Tunnel to Towers race director, directed the Sacramento race for the second year after stepping into the role last year.

Schroeder said she and the rest of the volunteer team, including her husband, fire captain Matt Schroeder, were hesitant at first to take on the responsibility after the previous director stepped down. 

“(We felt like) we don’t know what we’re doing,” Schroder said.

After three phone calls from the previous director, Schroeder accepted the position as race director, with just nine weeks to spare before last year’s Sacramento race. 

A full year of planning and preparation went into this year’s event. Tunnel to Towers partnered with Capitol Road Race Management to time the event, drawing more dedicated runners, as well as families and kids being pushed in strollers. 

“It’s sort of a combination event,” said Schroder, due to the variety of running experience and race day goals of participants.

The event brought out Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, City of Sacramento Fire Chief Chris Costamagna Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and Sacramento Area Senior Fire Chaplain Kevin Snider.

Adam Maciel, a Sacramento city firefighter served as DJ for the morning as participants checked out booths for the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Police Department, Firefighters Burn Institute, Rally Point Foundation and Capitol Road Race, who timed the event. 

Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the C.K. McClatchy High School ROTC Color Guard presented and performed the national anthem during the opening ceremony.

Schroder’s father-in law, retired Sacramento City Fire Chief Don Schroeder was the creator behind an honor wall honoring all first responder victims of the 9/11 attacks. The honor wall was placed in Land Park for participants to view at the Saturday event. Prior to lining up at the start line, participants were able to choose a fallen first responder to pin to their badge and run in honor of.

Tunnel to Towers 5K participants had the chance to select a fallen first responder to run in honor of. Photo by Abbey Wicks

Amber Saks, a 2022 Gold Star recipient, reflected on the impact Tunnel to Towers made in her life and the lives of her two daughters when husband and father Marine Captain John Sax passed away in an aviation accident.

Amber Saks, a Gold Star recipient, speaking at last year’s Tunnel to Towers 5k Run and Walk. Photo courtesy of Tunnel to Towers Foundation

“When I had the chance to meet Tunnel to Tower’s CEO [Frank Siller], he remembered my name and the names of my daughters, he remembered John’s story,” Saks said.

This year, Tunnel to Towers awarded nine local Sacramento first responders or military with mortgage-free homes.