Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk - The Villages, FL

What is a Tunnel To Towers Run & Walk?

• Purpose: 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.
• Honor: Honor all of 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!
• Foundation Info: For more information on the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation please visit www.t2t.org.

Event Details

• Location: The event will take place at 700 N. Buena Vista Boulevard, The Villages, FL.
• Date: Mark your calendars for November 14, 2026.
• Community Gathering: This will be the third The Villages T2T 5K and we are excited to once again bring together the community to honor first responders, remember 9/11, and raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers programs.

Event Logistics

• Distance: This is a 5K (approximately 3.1 miles) to walk or run this event. Anyone can run, walk, or experience this event.
• Packet Pickup: Packet pickup will take place on Friday, November 13th between 9:00am and 5:00pm, and between 7:00am and 8:00am Saturday, November 14th. We HIGHLY recommend picking up packets on Friday the 14th to avoid the possibility of missing the beginning of the race.
• Day-of Registration: Yes. Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. the morning of the run. If you wait to register, we may not have a shirt for you and we do not guarantee sizes for late registrants but we will do our best!

Registration Information

• Online Registration: Online registration will remain open until race day registration is closed. If you register after packet pick-up, you may not receive your t-shirt and any other race day swag.
• Displaying Bibs: 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.
• Fast Runners: Runners predicting a pace faster than 6 minutes/mile will be seeded in the front of the runners (arrive early).

Awards and Amenities

• Awards: 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.
• Water Stations: Yes, three water stations will be available along the route and there will be water available at the start/finish line.
• What to Bring: Strollers and wheelchairs are permitted. Firefighter turnout gear and military backpacks are also permitted. Please do not leave any personal items visible in your vehicle.

Fundraising and Donations

• Registration Fees: Your registration fee does not count toward the fundraising goal.
• Packet Pickup for Others: Yes, they can. They must present a copy of your registration receipt.
• Donating After the Race: Yes. Donations will be accepted for 6 weeks after the event.
• Sponsorship: Please send all sponsorship correspondence to thevillages@t2t.org with your contact information and someone will be in touch with you within 24 hours.

Contact Information

• Donations: If you would like to donate goods or services to this event, contact us at thevillages@t2t.org.
• Fundraising: 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.
• Offline Donations: Please mail any offline donations to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, ATTN: Rori Englert, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306.

Transfer and Refund Policy

• Registration Transfers: Yes. Contact us at thevillages@t2t.org to arrange changes in our system.
• Refunds: 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.

Volunteer Information

• How to Volunteer: It's simple! Email us at thevillages@t2t.org and we will reply within 24 hours.

Medical Support

• Medical Staff: Yes, there will be an Emergency Medical Service team available on site.

Fundraising Incentives

• Incentives: Yes, we offer fundraising incentives each year: check out our latest in our Fundraising Guide.