provided to The Santiva Chronicle

John Henshaw, left, and Jeff Muddell finished the Tunnel to Towers climb together.

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club heard from Rotarian John Henshaw and Kiwanian Jeff Muddell about their experience with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Tower Climb NYC. Team Sanibel raised over $15,000 thanks to your support and ranked 6th overall in funds raised by individual teams.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has held the Tower Climb NYC at One World Trade Center in New York City since 2015. Approximately 1,000 participants climb 104 stories each year, symbolizing strength, hope, and the resilience of the American spirit. The event celebrates the life and sacrifice of all 9/11 heroes, including FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller and FDNY Captain Billy Burke.

Henshaw and Muddell started the climb at One World Trade Center at 5:45 a.m. and finished 30 minutes later. While Muddell was a floor ahead of Henshaw at the end of the climb, Muddell waited for Henshaw so they could finish as “Team Sanibel” and cross the finish line together.

They finished about 309 of 843 participants. Given that only 12 men finished in Henshaw’s age bracket (70-79), and Muddell led the way, he was fortunate to finish first in the oldest age bracket. He now understands why only 12 men his age finished.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s mission is to provide mortgage-free homes to fallen first responders and Gold Star families with children and to eradicate veteran homelessness ultimately.

Henshaw is no stranger to lower Manhattan or the World Trade Center complex. As head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2004, he helped oversee the federal response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“Through my time working at Ground Zero, I met and worked alongside many first responders who survived that day and continued working with them through the search and recovery, and cleanup and recovery efforts,” said Henshaw.

“I have the utmost respect for all those responding to this attack and for all those who currently serve and sacrifice every day to protect our lives and freedoms,” he said.

Muddell is a native of Clifton, New Jersey, just 13 miles west of the World Trade Center. While he was already living in Florida during 9/11, he vividly recalls the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, and he knows many friends and families affected by the September 11 terrorist attack.

“Even in the suburbs, it seems everyone knows someone who was lost in 9/11. So, this Tunnel to Towers event will be special, and it will be great to support John, who played a crucial role in all the work that happened in lower Manhattan after 9/11,” said Muddell.

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary meets at the Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, and also via Zoom. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., and the meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

For more information about Rotary, visit sanibelrotary.org

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