- February 21, 2025
Andrew Gulyas, a member of Flagler Palm Coast High School's Fire Academy, crosses the finish line in his fire fighter gear. Photo by Sierra Williams
Palm Coast's 2024 Tunnel to Towers 5K had over 200 participants. Photo by Sierra Williams
PCFD Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill presented Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue Vice President Howard Peiffer the Follow The Footsteps Award on behalf of Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Photo by Sierra Williams
Lt. James Brown, with the Gainesville Fire Department, ran the race in his firefighter gear alongside his wife, Janet Brown. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jackie Pellek crosses the finish line. Photo by Sierra Williams
James and John McGovern with Grace McGovern, 88. Photo by Sierra Williams
Robert MacDonald and FPC Fire Academy student Andrew Gulyas both wore fire gear in the race. Pictured: MacDonald, Gulyas and MacDonald's grandson Nathan, also dressed in a firefighter uniform, with Mayor David Alfin. Photo by Sierra Williams
Christopher Vecchione, 35, finished first, with a time of 19.28. Photo by Sierra Williams
Troy Webb, 26, came in second place. Photo by Sierra Williams
Debbie Gulyas celebrates finishing the 5K. Photo by Sierra Williams
Michael Appolonia is greeted as he crosses the finish line with his father, Patrick Appolonia Sr. Photo by Sierra Williams
Laurice Viola finishes the 5K with a smile. Photo by Sierra Williams
Robert MacDonald with his daughter Courtney MacDonald and grandson Nathan. Photo by Sierra Williams
Roger Bartos crosses the finish line. Photo by Sierra Williams
Roger Bartos, his wife Brooke and their daughter Avery all ran in the Tunnel to Towers 5K. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Firefighter Memorial Bell was rung at the start of the 5K in honor of the first responders who died on 9/11. Photo by Sierra Williams
Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Carli Pontieri with her dog Bailey at the Tunnel to Towers 5K. Photo by Sierra Williams
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin with Robert MacDonald. Photo by Sierra Williams
Over 300 registered for and ran in Palm Coast's 2024 Tunnel to Towers 5K run/walk on Feb. 3.
As of Feb. 5, the city's third annual race for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation had raised over $20,000, according to an email from Palm Coast Communications Director Brittany Kershaw. Kershaw said the race had 304 participants, 25 more participants than in 2023.
Individuals Bryan McMahon, John Johnston, and Fredrick Gleissner each raised $1,325, $855, and $570, respectively, a Palm Coast Press release said. Several teams also worked together to raise funding: “Team No Judge” raised $1,550, followed by “FDNY Gone South” with $860 and “Roger ‘Papa’ Thibault” with $415, the press release said.
All proceeds will go to the foundation, which helps support the families of fallen veterans and first responders. Palm Coast has now raised over $55,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation over the last three years, Kershaw said.
Ahead of the race, Palm Coast Fire Department Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill presented the Follow The Footsteps Award to Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue Vice President Howard Peiffer on behalf of Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Peiffer has served in the fire service for 66 years and is a former PCFD fire chief.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was formed after 9/11 in 2001 by Frank Siller whose brother Stephen Siller was one of the 343 first responders killed while attempting to save lives. Stephen Siller had just gotten off of his shift that morning when he heard about the planes crashing into the Twin Towers, according to the Foundation's website.
Stephen Siller returned to his squad, drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and ran through the tunnel to where it connected to the Twin Towers, the website said. The Foundation held its first 5K in NYC, and it has since expanded to included races across the country.
Jackie Pellek, a retired teacher from New Jersey, is planning to run in every state that hosts a Tunnel to Towers 5K. So far, she said, she's run in five races across the country.
Pellek said she was so inspired by the sacrifice made by the first responders who died on 9/11 that she created her own foundation called 403 Reasons to Run, which supports the efforts of the Tunnel to Towers.
"I believe in what the mission of the [Tunnel to Towers] Foundation is and our foundation is modeled after their foundation," she said. "So because I believe in it, I wanna support it."
Christopher Vecchione, 35, came in first place at 19 minutes and 28 seconds, with Troy Webb, 26, and Paul Pais, 51, placing second and third overall, respectively. Below are the remaining first place winners in each age group, according to the registration website.
Best male overall: Vecchione.
Best female overall: Kimberley Roberts, 34, at 21 minutes and 57 seconds.
Female categories
Females 17 and under: Morrigan Daly, 15.
Female 18-23: Ashley Baccus, 22.
Female 24-30: Sarah Hastings, 27.
Female 31-37: Megan Rice, 32.
Female 38-43: Amy Kutlik, 40.
Female 44-49: Krisie Patrick, 46.
Female 50-56: Jackie Pellek, 55.
Female 57-64: Dottie West, 61.
Female 65 and over: Marsha Pacelli, 67.
Male categories
Male 17 and under: Austin Cochran, 17.
Male 18-23: Nicholas Cirillo, 20.
Male 24-30: Troy Webb, 26.
Male 31-37: Eric Richard, 34.
Male 38-43: Matthew Bewley, 41.
Male 44-49: Michael Gariepy, 44.
Male 50-56: Paul Pais, 51.
Male 57-64: James McGovern, 59.
Male 65 and over: Joe Komaromy, 70.
This story was updated on Feb. 5 2:10 p.m. to reflect updated number of participants and the amount of money raised for Tunnel to Towers.
