Registration opened Thursday, January 8 at 10 a.m. for the 5th Annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk Palm Coast, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Central Park in Town Center. The event begins at 8 a.m.
The four previous Palm Coast events have raised nearly $100,000, with all proceeds going to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The foundation was formed in 2001 by Frank Siller in honor of his brother Stephen Siller, who was among the 343 first responders killed in New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001. Stephen, a Brooklyn firefighter, had just finished his shift that morning when he heard about the attacks at the World Trade Center. He grabbed his bunker gear and headed toward the Twin Towers to help but found himself stuck in traffic at Brooklyn’s Battery Tunnel. He abandoned his truck and ran in full bunker gear from the tunnel to the World Trade Center, where he lost his life while saving others. The foundation’s name commemorates that final journey.
Since its founding just weeks after September 11, the organization has committed itself to helping families of fallen veterans and first responders, as well as catastrophically injured service members. The foundation provides mortgage-free homes and has raised over $1 billion to date. In December 2021, Tunnel to Towers broke ground on the “Let Us Do Good” village in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, a first-of-its-kind neighborhood featuring smart homes tailored to serve the needs of injured veterans. These homes include special features that help residents maintain normal functionality and mobility despite their injuries. As of late 2025, over 1,700 mortgage-free homes have been delivered or are in process, and the organization has provided housing assistance and supportive services for over 17,500 homeless veterans.
Patrick Appolonia, event director and member of the City’s Marketing and Communications Department, reflected on the local event’s success. “Since 2022, it’s been amazing to see the tremendous amount of support from the community, from our participants to our loyal volunteers, and members of our Fire Department that make our event so memorable,” Appolonia said. “There are so many people that contribute to this event in so many ways, and the impact we’ve been able to make in 5 years is something that I hope will continue into the future.”
Early-bird discounted registration rates are available through Wednesday, January 14. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the volunteer registration page. All participants and volunteers will receive a Tunnel to Towers t-shirt, and customized medals will be awarded to top runners in each age group.
For inquiries or sponsorship opportunities, contact palmcoast@t2t.org.
