Mon Sep 09 15:35:32 UTC 2024: ## New York Firefighters Cycle in Ireland to Honor 9/11 Victims and Raise Funds for Charities
**Cork, Ireland:** Forty New York firefighters, including those who responded to the 9/11 attacks, will be cycling from Dublin to Cork this week to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy and raise funds for two charities: Friends of Firefighters of New York and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.
The cycle, organized by the National Retained Firefighters Association of Ireland, will take the firefighters through scenic Irish countryside, culminating in a memorial ceremony at a garden of remembrance in Kinsale.
Michael Schreiber, a New York firefighter who was injured while escaping the collapse of Building 7 on 9/11, said the trip provides a unique opportunity to honor fallen colleagues while offering support to firefighters struggling with the aftermath of the attacks. “This will be the first time I won’t be at Ground Zero on 9/11, but I can’t think of a better place to be if I’m not going to be there,” he said.
Schreiber highlighted the enduring mental health challenges faced by firefighters in the years since 9/11, with many suffering from PTSD and other illnesses. Nancy Carbone, founder of Friends of Firefighters, emphasized the devastating impact of 9/11 exposure on firefighters, with an average of four firefighters dying each month from 9/11-related cancers.
“I’ve had so many firefighters come in and say: ‘The guys to the left of me are dead and the guys to right of me are dead, when is my turn?’ so that’s a hard thing to live with,” said Carbone.
The cycle aims to raise funds to provide crucial support services to both New York firefighters and Irish families battling childhood cancer.
“Most of these guys have Irish connections, and now they’re getting a chance to cycle in the home of their ancestors; it’s going to be emotional,” said Steve McFadden, chair of the National Retained Firefighters Association of Ireland.
The event promises to be a poignant tribute to the heroes of 9/11 while offering hope and support to those still suffering the long-term effects of the tragedy.
First Piper 