Livestrong’s 343-Mile First Responder Ride for Resilience, Honoring Fallen 9/11 Firefighters, to Pass Through Lexington
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 move through Lexington on Sunday, September 6. 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.”
“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 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, donate or view the local route through Lexington, visit 911ride.org.
Expected timing for riders passing through:
| Community | Date | Approximate timing |
| Lexington, MA (Rest stop mi 12.1) | Sunday, September 6 | 7:45 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. |
Timings are projections based on the current rest stop schedule and route mileage. Riders depart in waves, which is why each window is wide.
Water and rest stops in your coverage area:
- Lexington Visitors Center, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02421. Sunday, September 6, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m..
This is the strongest visual for photographers: riders, apparatus, and local firefighters in one place, with a steady flow of cyclists arriving over several hours.
Spokespeople available for interviews:
- Suzanne Stone, President and CEO, Livestrong
- Nancy Carbone, Executive Director, Friends of Firefighters
Local riders: 17 riders in this year’s field live within about 25 miles of your coverage area, and the closest is roughly 8 miles from the route. If you would like to speak with a rider from your area, contact us and we will make an introduction.
Media contact: Suzanne Stone, President & CEO, Livestrong. 512-649-7146. suzanne.stone@livestrong.org
About Livestrong
Founded in 1997, Livestrong has supported more than 10 million people living with, through, and beyond cancer, providing the trusted information, programs, and community that help survivors navigate every stage of the journey. Livestrong helped establish survivorship as a formal field of study in cancer care and continues to expand access to the practical and emotional support that cancer survivors and their families deserve. Because surviving is just the beginning. To learn more or to donate, visit Livestrong.org.
About Friends of Firefighters
Friends of Firefighters is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides independent, confidential, and free mental health counseling and wellness services to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their family members. Learn more at friendsoffirefighters.org.
About Boston Fire Cancer Foundation
The Boston Fire Cancer Foundation is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization that raises money to support members of the Boston Fire Department who are diagnosed with occupational cancer. We provide both emotional and financial support to firefighters and their families.