Sanibel team prepares for 9/11 memorial tower climb to support families of fallen first responders

This fall marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation continues its mission of providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families.

Channing Frampton

On Sanibel Island, a team is training for the foundation’s annual tower climb at One World Trade Center in New York as part of their fundraising efforts. For one team member, the memory of the attacks remains deeply personal.

The sound of footsteps pounding pavement and climbing concrete stairs echoes outside Fire Station 171 on Saturday mornings as the team trains. “We're just going to have fun and raise money for a great cause,” said John Henshaw.

“It’s all about raising money for the spouses or family members of lost first responders,” Henshaw said. Henshaw helped start the fundraising team two years ago, and this year, they set a goal of raising $40,000 for the nonprofit.

City of Sanibel

Henshaw, now a Sanibel city councilman, held a much different title 25 years ago.

“At the time, I was the head of OSHA, the administrator for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,” he said.

Henshaw responded to Ground Zero after the World Trade Center towers fell, witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by first responders.

OSHA

“I saw firsthand what our first responders went through,” he said.

The experience remains with him to this day.

“It brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. It's a powerful impact,” Henshaw said. The memory motivates him each time he trains to climb the tower in New York.

VIDEO OF A SPECIAL TUNNEL TO TOWERS VISIT ON THE GULF COAST:

“It's great to go back. And I hope all 15 of us go back to the museum. You could spend days at the museum. You can't do it quickly. We have to read everything. It's emotional,” he said.

Henshaw won’t be alone on the journey.

“We're going up there as one big family. We're going to have a great time,” said Kevin Barbot, fire chief at Station 171.

Tim Doane

Fire trucks at the station carry decals memorializing the events of September 11, a humble reminder of the sacrifices made by first responders. “It's going to be a humble reminder of what those guys had to go through,” Barbot said.

The mission includes women as well.

“I was in New Jersey at the time that the towers were struck,” said Dr. Toniann Conte, a Bonita Springs resident.

Conte shared a personal connection to the tragedy.

“We had a brother that we thought was in the building. Thank goodness he left the building early that day, but we thought he was killed,” she said.

Tim Doane

On June 7, more than 1,000 participants will climb the 104-story tower in New York. Since there are no skyscrapers here on Sanibel, they use a tower behind Station 171. They have to go up and down 63 times to match the number of steps they'll take in New York.

With each step, the team hopes to continue their journey of helping families in need while honoring the memory of September 11.

“God forbid, we'll never have that happen to us again,” Henshaw said.

Learn more about the team and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation here.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.