On 30th of September 2018 Ross & I will be flying to New York to take part in the Tunnel to Towers 5k.

Here's why....

14th of June 2017 changed the lives of so many. Ross being a LFB Firefighter attended the blaze that ripped through Grenfell Tower claiming the lives of so many. As a result of that day, a short while after, a respite weekend was organised for the Firefighters and I met Ross for the first time. A few months later we became a couple and haven't looked back since. Our relationship is a very small silver lining in such an awful tragedy and we want to give back to all those less fortunate than ourselves. The sadness that still echoes from that fateful day is still just as cutting a year on and with victims and families still without permanent housing there is still so much to be done.

The Tunnel to Towers run follows the ultimately tragic footsteps of New York Firefighter Stephen Siller. On September 11, 2001, Stephen, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear. Stephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.

These two two major events have played a big part in our lives so every penny raised will be shared equally between these two worthy causes. Ross will be following Stephens footsteps in full fire kit and also it will be a challenge for me personally having suffered with Ehlers Danlos since birth and have to manage accute pain and dislocation on a regular basis.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, all donations will be gratefully appreciated however big or small.

Nicky & Ross

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