Sept. 28, 2025 – One mile remains. Active first responders wearing banners displaying all 2,977 victims of the Sept. 11 attacks line the streets of New York City. Nearly 50,000 runners and walkers, including the Marist University women’s basketball team, participate in the 5k to remember, to never forget. For sophomore guard Danielle Williamsen — the reason the team is here — this story began long before this run. Even before she was born.
Sept. 11, 2001 – Steve Williamsen joined over 1,000 fellow New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers, 200 Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) fire units and 100 ambulances who risked their lives to save others. Three hijacked planes crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and both towers of the World Trade Center. A fourth plane went down in a field near Shanksville, Pa. after 40 crew members and passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
These terrorist attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, leaving almost as many children without a parent. Steve Williamsen selflessly responded at the towers and aided alongside his squad in the “ground zero” aftermath. Over 400 of his first responder counterparts lost their lives.
During the early morning on this day, Stephen Siller concluded his shift with the FDNY’s Brooklyn Squad 1. On his way to play golf with his brothers, he received word of the attacks over his scanner. He quickly turned his personal pickup truck around and drove to the then-Brooklyn Battery Tunnel; the entrance was blocked off for security purposes. Instead of turning back, he suited up with close to 60 pounds of firefighter gear and sprinted nearly three miles to the towers. The 34-year-old died in an effort to save the attack’s victims from blaze and structural failure.
Sept. 22, 2002 – 1,500 people gathered for the inaugural Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in New York City, where they embarked on the 3.5-mile route. Per the organization’s website, “the event symbolizes Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the foot of the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.” The event only grew with time.
2006 – Williamsen suffered the second heart attack of his life, forcing him to retire after nearly 20 years on the force. The family’s ties to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, however, continued. One of Steve’s four children, Danielle, continues to make him proud with all she does for the foundation in an effort to ensure younger generations “never forget.”
Sept. 30, 2018 – A then 12-year-old Danielle Williamsen heard from her mother, Christine, about the 5k in the city. She and her brother, Nick, signed up for the race.
“I always thought it was pretty cool because it’s not about me. It’s something much bigger than that. It’s a bigger cause,” said Williamsen. Siller’s story greatly influences her mindset, a tale that gives her chills when she mentions it.
2019 – 2024: On every fourth Sunday of September, excluding the cancelled 2020 race due to COVID-19, Williamsen ran the 5k alone.
Sept. 29, 2024 – Despite continuing to run alone, Williamsen met up with a familiar face after the race for the first time since originally signing up in 2018.
Amanda Molloy, Williamsen’s best friend, runs the 5k in honor of her father, John, who passed away before she arrived at Marist. John Molloy and Steve Williamsen graduated from Marist together in 1992 and from the police academy in 1997. The two retired NYPD officers’ daughters convened after this year’s race, but Williamsen still ran it without her, alone. She did not mind going solo, but this reality would change less than a year later.
Summer, 2025 – Marist women’s basketball arrived back on campus in late June for summer workouts. The athletes lived together; Williamsen resided with senior guard Morgan Tompkins and sophomore guard Elle Bruschuk.
Christine Williamsen sent Danielle the sign-up link, reminding her to enroll in this year’s race. Danielle brought up the idea to Tompkins, asking if she would join her. Tompkins’ response of “Hell yeah, I’ll do that,” touched Williamsen greatly.
“I was so excited. I wanted to do it. It brought her to tears that I was so excited to do it because it means a lot to her,” said Tompkins.
With Bruschuk also joining, Williamsen pitched the idea to senior guard Jackie Piddock. Given her background with the U.S. military, she loved the idea and could not wait to participate.
With three teammates on board and knowing the school’s men’s lacrosse program also previously participated in the event, Williamsen pondered with Tompkins about asking the rest of the team.
“Do you think it’ll be OK if I mention this to the coaches [and] see if everybody wants to do it? It’ll be fun,” Williamsen asked. Tompkins agreed: “Go for it.”
Thus, Williamsen discussed the idea, and logistics, with the coaching staff. Assistant coach Brittany Shields knew about the race because she previously volunteered while coaching at Pace University.
“When she said it, I was like ‘it’s an excellent idea.’ It’s just a pain to get down there [Brooklyn], but she brought it to the coaches, and they were like, ‘Yeah, this is awesome.’ We haven’t done something like this,” said Shields.
While the staff figured out the trip’s logistics, Williamsen did her part.
“Dani did the whole thing. She spoke to the people from Tunnels to Towers,” said Tompkins.
On July 9, approximately two and a half weeks after settling back in for summer practices, Williamsen texted in her team’s group chat. She emphasized the ability to run or walk, leaving it up to her teammates. Everyone answered immediately, and some made jokes, like assistant coach Nick Volchok who joked about bringing a fanny pack.
Sept. 28, 2025, 5:30 a.m. – Nearly the entire Marist women’s basketball team departed Poughkeepsie by bus for Brooklyn. Only three players did not attend due to advice from Marist’s athletic training staff not to do so because of injury. One of these players was Tompkins.
Despite Tompkins’ burning desire to participate, a torn ACL prevented her from doing so; however, she still attempted to support her friend one way or another.
“We tried to figure out a way. She was going to push me in a wheelchair. [They were all taken], so I didn’t get to do it, but I made a promise to her that next year that’ll be my recovery thing with her. I’m excited,” said Tompkins.
Like Tompkins, sophomore guard Kasey Bretones and senior forward Ciara Croker supported Williamsen and ensured their participation next year.
The Red Foxes gathered alongside nearly 50,000 others in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The race lasted all day, beginning at 9 a.m. Before the starting gun, Siller’s brother, Frank, spoke to the crowd at the starting line. The sea of black and neon green fire suits worn by active FDNY firefighters reminded Siller of his late brother. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a supporter of the foundation, also shared a few words.
Due to the sheer size, waves of 1,000-2,000 people departed at a time. It began with members of the U.S. military, followed by those with disabilities determined to race because of the cause.
Marist ran in Group 1E, alongside athletes from Army West Point. The Black Knights chanted in unison wearing matching gear alongside their Division I counterparts from the other side of the Hudson River. In front of Williamsen and her team, firefighters in full gear followed in Siller’s footsteps, racing towards the 9/11 Memorial.
“I think it makes you appreciate everything a little bit more because you have a tendency to take that stuff for granted. Then when you’re there with troops, first responders and victims of lost loved ones, you feel like, ‘Oh my God, all my problems are really so small,’” said Shields.
With approximately one mile remaining in the run, firefighters and police officers lined the sidewalk with banners around their necks. The banners display the names of each and every victim, their picture, when they were born and the day terrorists took their life.
“It’s just a surreal feeling,” said Williamsen.
Food trucks, a performance from country singer Chris Janson and a procession down the street greeted them on the other side. Old high school cheerleaders from Williamsen’s high school, St. Joseph by-the-Sea, cheered on the participants.
From there, the team went to the aforementioned 9/11 Memorial.
“You get the chills. You get goosebumps. You get emotional,” said Shields.
“It was something they’ve never experienced, so that made me happy knowing that it made them happy. It was a surreal feeling for them because some of my teammates aren’t from New York. They don’t really know much about it,” said Williamsen.
Some members of the team walked the race, whereas others ran. Regardless, everyone had plenty of good things to say, and some even texted Williamsen afterwards. In fact, in the eyes of the team, the 5k went from a team-bonding trip to something they want to do every year moving forward.
“I’d be shocked if our team didn’t do it again,” said Shields.
“I was jealous I couldn’t go,” added Tompkins.
The support from her teammates meant the world to Williamsen.
“These girls are my teammates. They’re practically my family. I spend every waking moment with them. Knowing that they have my back through something that means so much to me and they want to be there for it, you can’t describe it. It’s just an unconditional love from them,” said Williamsen.
Dec. 15, 2025: The Tunnel to Tower’s official Instagram account released their 2025 Class of Student Athlete Advocates, highlighted by Williamsen and five other athletes across five different sports.
The new Student Athlete Advocates’ role entails spreading awareness about the attacks, especially towards younger generations who did not experience 9/11. Williamsen decided to apply and partner with them because of their mission statement: “Do good.” She tries to work that into her daily life and spread the message to the people her campaign reaches out to.
Photo via Marist Athletics/Marist Women’s Basketball Instagram
“It gives back such a good message to everybody. Everybody should know about it,” said Williamsen. “It’s not forgetting our nation’s heroes. A lot of them have died and put everyone else’s life before their own.”
Though traumatic beyond comprehension to the point he tries to block it out and does not share anything, Steve Williamsen lives with no regrets. This motivated his daughter Danielle to serve in her own way, one that will include the 5k and 104-story tower climb when she honors 9/11 for an eighth year.
“He always says that anytime he put on his uniform, he knew he was helping others and it was a great feeling. He wouldn’t have had it any other way,” said Williamsen. “I only strive to be half the man that my dad is.”
Edited by Center Field Staff
Photo and graphic by Quinn DiFiore
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