USA: U.S. and Australian firemen start a cross country run to commemorate 9/11

Record ID: 375223

  • Title: USA: U.S. and Australian firemen start a cross country run to commemorate 9/11
  • Date: 14th August 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES DOWDELL, NEW YORK FIREFIGHTER AND CO-ORGANIZER, SAYING: "I feel like contributing, you know. All the firemen that got killed, there's 343 firemen, 411 emergency service workers. So that's a lot of families that are there, that lost a loved one, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It's trying to help. It's just a small token we could do to show them
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVADXR3O6BAMAA6LS88AVBS11BP5
  • Story Text: Firefighters from the United States and Australia teamed up in Santa Monica, California to begin a month long run acorss the U.S. The "Tour of Duty" starts at the beach in California and travels a 4,900 mile (7038 km) route through Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and finallyat Ground Zero in New York on September 11.
    A team of 16 American and 16 Australian runners will be divided into three teams, running for six hours in relay, then 12-hours off. The cycle continues for 24 hours a day until they reach New York.
    One of the main forces behind the tour, Melbourne firefighter Paul Ritchie, spoke to the runners before they set off on their journey.
    "To be standing here with the rest of the American firefighters and police is an incredible honor," said Ritchie. "I woke up this morning, actually I should say we didn't wake up this morning, we were up all night with pure excitement and energy from our heart."
    Firefighters from both sides of the Pacific Ocean said that the cross-country challenge is a way to remember their colleagues. James Dowdell, who's father was a first responder who died on September 11, said that this is a way to give back.
    "I feel like contributing, you know. All the firemen that got killed, there's 343 firemen, 411 emergency service workers," said Dowdell. "That's a lot of families that are there, that lost a loved one, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It's trying to help. It's just a small token we could do to show them that we're still with them."
    The Tour of Duty runners plan to be running over the Brooklyn Bridge on September 11 at 6:00 AM (EST) and arrive at Ground Zero in time for a special ceremony to begin at 8:46 AM (EST), the time when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Funds raised will be donated to charities nominated by the Fire fighters and Emergency Services of America.
    The attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2010 claimed the lives of 2,976 people including 411 emergency services workers.
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