Palm Coast’s fourth annual Tunnel to Towers 5K was held on Saturday, raising $15,131 to benefit first responders and their families. The event featured 389 runners and walkers, all of whom helped bring in funds to a top-rated charitable nonprofit.
In addition to the basic sign-up fees paid by the runners, several individuals and organizations donated large sums of money to help the event exceed its goal of $10,000. Top individual donors included Dreana Briggle ($1,255), Greg Briggle ($1,050), and Susan Kelly ($1,025). Also contributing greatly were Transformation Fitness ($2,885), D&G for T2T ($2,305), and FDNY Gone South ($1,000).
Local Impacts
City of Palm Coast Communications Department employee Patrick Appolonia organized the event, and was on-hand to deliver opening remarks and ceremonies. “This event is so much more than a race,” he said. “It’s a day for our community to come together to honor, remember, and give back to the heroes who sacrifice so much for us. Each year, this event grows stronger, and we appreciate the support from people of all ages, reminding us of the incredible spirit that makes Palm Coast such a special place to live.”
Before the race began in Palm Coast Town Center, remarks were delivered by Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill and Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. Palm Coast Fire Lieutenant Patrick Juliano was presented with the Follow the Footsteps Award for ‘his extraordinary dedication to public service and unwavering support for his fire department family’, per a statement by the city government.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was started in 2001 shortly after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The foundation honors Stephen Siller, a Brooklyn-based firefighter who’d just gotten off work when the North Tower was hit on 9/11. He made it as far as the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel before hitting a roadblock.
From there the 34-year-old Siller was said to have strapped on all 60 pounds of his firefighter gear and ran through the tunnel on foot to Manhattan where the crisis was unfolding. 343 members of the New York City Fire Department died on 9/11 (to say nothing of the greater number who succumbed to related ailments), with Siller among them. The motto of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation was taken from a Franciscan prayer which was dear to Siller: “While we have time, let us do good”.
Top 10 Finishers
The top ten finishers of the 2025 Palm Coast Tunnel to Towers 5K were as follows, with age, city of residence, and chip times.
- Julius Dayandante (55 – Ormond Beach, FL) – 18:58:0
- Alex Mikhas (20 – Palm Coast, FL) – 20:22:2
- Gage Jenners (34 – Palm Coast, FL) – 20:28:9
- Paul Pais (53 – Palm Coast, FL) – 20:33:6
- Joshua Brands (27 – Palm Coast, FL) – 20:50:5
- Joseph Trubacz (66 – Palm Coast, FL) – 21:54:7
- Austin Cochran (18 – Palm Coast, FL) – 22:02:8
- Paolo Pulley (24 – Palm Coast, FL) – 22:07:5
- David Boettger (21 – Easton, PA) – 22:14:4
- M. Yorgey (12, Palm Coast) – 22:29:6
