Ahead of the 25th anniversary of September 11, Livestrong, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the daily lives of cancer survivors, is hosting a landmark First Responder Ride for Resilience, a five-day, 343-mile cycling journey from Boston to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City honoring the 343 firefighters lost on September 11, 2001. Riders will pass through Acton on Sunday, September 6 between approximately 8:45 a.m. and noon, following the route shown on the map below. Local residents are invited to cheer on riders, volunteer at a water stop, or donate to show their support.
According to research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, firefighters are nine percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and 14 percent more likely to die from it than the general public. The ride brings together first responders, cancer survivors, and community members to raise funds benefiting Friends of Firefighters, the Boston Fire Cancer Foundation, and Livestrong, expanding access to cancer survivorship and mental health programs for first responders and their families.
“This ride wouldn’t be possible without the communities that welcome it along the way,” said Suzanne Stone, President and CEO of Livestrong. “Every stop gives people an opportunity to honor the firefighters and first responders affected by September 11 while supporting organizations that continue to serve them. We hope people will see this as a chance to come together around something that matters: honoring the heroes we lost, and standing with those still fighting today.” There is no staffed water stop in Acton, but residents are encouraged to come out and cheer from their front yards or businesses.
“Friends of Firefighters was born out of 9/11 with the promise that firefighters would never have to face the weight of the job alone,” said Nancy Carbone, Executive Director of Friends of Firefighters. “In the last 25 years, we have lost nearly 800 members of the FDNY [Fire Department of New York City] to September 11th and 9/11 cancer, and job-related cancer remains one of the greatest risks our firefighters face every single day. Whether you ride, volunteer, or donate, you’re providing hands-on support for the physical and mental toll cancer takes on our first responders.”
To register, volunteer, or donate visit 911ride.org. The ride is limited to 500 participants; when the Acton Exchange went to press, registration was still open for First Responder Riders and Civilian Honor Riders.
Livestrong is a sponsor of the Acton Exchange.
