Sanibelians take part in annual Tower Climb
Two islanders are raising funds to support first responder and military families, plus veterans.
For the second year in a row, Team Sanibel — made up of City Councilmember John Henshaw and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Sanibel President Jeff Muddell — took part in the annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb on June 1 at the One World Trade Center in New York City, New York.
Held by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation since 2015, the event celebrates the life and sacrifice of all 9/11 heroes, including New York City Fire Department Capt. William “Billy” Burke Jr. and firefighter Stephen Siller. Each year, about 1,000 participants climb 104 stories as a symbol of the strength, hope and resiliency of the American spirit.
“It’s a great event supporting our first responders,” Henshaw said. “After last year’s event when we got to the top of the tower, that’s where the excitement was — meeting a lot of first responders, a lot of individuals who were injured in the protection of our country, Gold Star families. It was a remarkable event.”
Muddell echoed that, explaining that it seemed like a great cause last year, so they signed up.
“But when we got there, we realized the fellow participants in this event — so many good, salt-of-the-earth New Yorkers who believe in the mission of the foundation,” he said, noting that there was also many families of those affected by both 9/11 and its aftermath, plus those benefitted by the foundation.
“It’s quite impactful,” Muddell added.
The event proceeds raised support the foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes to fallen first responders and Gold Star families with children and is working to eradicate veteran homelessness.
“It was born out of 9/11. They founded the mission to support the loved ones of the firefighters, first responders and police officers who died,” Muddell said. “Now what they’re primarily focused on is getting first responders into homes.”
“Their last bit is to eradicate homelessness for veterans,” Henshaw added, explaining that in recent years, the foundation opened a residential facility for homelessness veterans in Houston, Texas.
It also has the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute, which speaks at schools, to groups and such.
“Their primary purpose is to not forget the first responders who lost their lives on 9/11, but also to provide education so we never forgot what happened that day,” he said. “They do great work.”
On June 1, they started their climb at 6 a.m. and finished less than 30 minutes later.
“Both Jeff and I beat our time by one minute,” Henshaw said.
Muddell reached the top in 28.28 minutes, and he did so in 29.29 minutes.
Henshaw came in fourth in his age bracket, and Muddell came in 20th in his group.
Following the climb, Team Sanibel was invited to breakfast at O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub — the pub known as the place to remember 9/11. It is located two blocks from the World Trade Center and next door to Firehouse Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10, which was the first station to respond to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
As of last week, Team Sanibel had raised nearly $11,000 of its fundraising goal of $14,000.
They both expressed gratefulness to those who had donated.
“There’s so many things to support on this island and around the country,” Muddell said. “To be willing to make a donation to this great organization, we appreciate it very much.”
Donations can be made through June 30.
As for next year, both will participate again — they hope to get other islanders to join them.
“This coming year, we’re going to make sure that we get the word out to people who want to do it,” Henshaw said, noting that he would like to get three Sanibel firefighters and police officers to participate and be able to cover their expenses for them. “I think they would benefit in the sense of seeing how others feel about their sacrifices. They need to know that we care about them.”
“They’re part of communities,” he added. “They’re part of our families.”
“No matter where you were, we were all impacted by 9/11,” Muddell said of participating.
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. It played a critical role in monitoring disaster rescue workers’ exposures to dangerous toxins while toiling among the World Trade Center building debris.
Muddell is a native of Clifton, New Jersey — 13 miles west of the World Trade Center. While he was already residing in Florida when 9/11 occurred, he vividly recalls the 1993 bombing on the World Trade Center, and Muddell knows many friends and families affected by the Sept. 11 attack.
“What better way to support the memory of those who were impacted by the day, the families impacted by the day, and now all the first responders that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has supported through all the years and the military families that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has supported?” he asked.
To donate to Team Sanibel, visit https://nyctowerclimb.t2t.org/teamsanibel2025.
For more information about joining Team Sanibel and taking part in the 2026 Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb, contact Henshaw at john.henshaw@comcast.net or Muddell at jmuddell@sancaptrustco.com.
To learn more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, visit https://t2t.org/.