PHOTO PROVIDED From left, Sanibel City Councilmember and Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club member John Henshaw and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company President and Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club member Jeff Muddell will take part in the annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb on June 2 in New York.

On June 2, Sanibel City Councilmember and Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club member John Henshaw and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company President and Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club member Jeff Muddell will climb over 2,200 stairs at the One World Trade Center in New York to raise funds for the Tunnels to Tower Foundation.

Since 2015, the foundation has held the annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb in New York City. One thousand participants climb 104 stories, symbolizing strength, hope and the resiliency of the American spirit. The event celebrates the life and sacrifice of all 9/11 heroes, including FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller and FDNY Capt. Billy Burke.

As head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from 2001-04 under former President George W. Bush, Henshaw helped oversee the government response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He reported that OSHA played a critical role in monitoring disaster rescue workers’ exposures to dangerous toxins while toiling among the World Trade Center building debris.

“Through my time working at Ground Zero, I met and worked with many first responders who survived that day and continued working with them through the search and recovery, and cleanup and recovery efforts,” Henshaw said. “I have a great deal of respect for them and all those responding to this attack on our country.

“It’s an honor to participate in this event and support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s mission of providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and eradicating veteran homelessness,” he added.

Muddell is a native of Clifton, New Jersey — 13 miles west of the World Trade Center. He reported that while he was already living in Florida when 9/11 occurred, he vividly recalls the 1993 bombing on the World Trade Center, and he knows many friends and families affected by the Sept. 11 attack.

“Even in the suburbs, it seems everyone knows someone who was lost in 9/11,” Muddell said. “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.”

All funds raised will go directly to the foundation.

To donate and support the fundraising efforts of Henshaw and Muddell, visit https://runsignup.com/TeamSanibelJohn and https://runsignup.com/TeamSanibelJeff.

For more information about the foundation, visit www.T2T.org.