Cyclists travel 343 miles from Boston to Lower Manhattan, near the site of the World Trade Center — one mile for every New York City firefighter killed in the attacks on Sept. 11, 25 years ago.
It’s called the Ride for Resilience, and for the last three years, the nonprofit Friends of Firefighters has organized a version of the memorial ride.
The event helps raise money and awareness for free mental health counseling and wellness services that the organization provides to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their family members.
“Requests for sessions for counseling are off the charts, and now we are expanding to include children. We are expanding our pair program, which I think is the heart and soul of every firehouse,” Nancy Carbone, founder of Friends of Firefighters, said.
“Any funding that people can send our way, it would certainly help us to meet the needs because we don’t want to waitlist. With first responder calls for help, we should be there,” she continued.
The five-day journey began on Sunday, right outside Fenway Park.
On Thursday morning, the group of nearly 200 first responders from around the world — plus civilian honor riders — arrived in the Bronx at Van Cortlandt Park, their first stop in the city.
This is the first year the ride ends near the 9/11 Memorial.
The first two rides were held in Ireland alongside Irish firefighters. More than 20 firefighters from Ireland joined for this year’s ride.
“To try and show that the support is worldwide, I mean we all know where we were when it happened and 25 years on, to be here, talk to you guys, ride with the guys, it’s phenomenal,” Ger Blackburn, an Irish firefighter, said.
Deputy Assistant Chief John Corcoran is a 40-year veteran of the FDNY. He responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and has participated in all three rides with the Friends of Firefighters.
He says it’s an importance reminder of the department’s sacrifice.
“When they were going into the towers, they didn’t think second, they just went up. They didn’t hesitate one bit,” Corcoran said.
This year, Friends of Firefighters has partnered with Livestrong to expand its resources to help with the impact cancer has on both the physical and mental health of first responders.
This year’s ride has raised more than $800,000.
“It was apparent that there’s a gap there and we can do what we can to fill it. And so we’re here to show up for them. The way that they show up for us. It’s our turn now,” Suzanne Stone, president and CEO of Livestrong, said.
The 343rd mile ends at the site of the World Trade Center at the memorial’s survivor tree.
“You see a lot of names on our streets and a lot of names on the jerseys, pictures, motivating quotes from people that have passed. And you read this, and you reflect and you take in your grief because a lot of these firefighters, a lot of these folks, a lot of family members will never be done with their grieving process,“ rider John Escalante said.
As of Thursday morning, the group was halfway to its fundraising goal of $1.5 million.
Donations can be made at 911ride.org.