About a week and half before last year’s 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, FDNY Firefighter and running enthusiast Etan Blatt felt motivated to do something special. Blatt made a last minute decision to run on September 11th from his home town in Long Beach, NY to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in downtown NYC. He formulated a route where the total distance from point to point is 34.3 miles and it represents one mile for each of the 343 FDNY Firefighters who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001 in their attempt to save lives and property. Those 343 firefighters made the supreme sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty looking to save others. They died so that others would live. This year Blatt will make the 34.3 mile run again and he’s asking others to support him in his effort to turn “Miles into Memories.”

According to Blatt, FDNY firefighters have a “rule” for days like 9/11. Blatt said, “If you’re not working in the firehouse, then you’re at a memorial, a ceremony at a firehouse or down at ground zero.” At first, Blatt struggled with the idea of running as a way of memorializing the fallen firefighters instead of paying his respects at a “formal” memorial. However, after speaking to some respected FDNY senior members Blatt realized that his 34.3 mile run would be a great and extremely respectful way to honor the lives of the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. Blatt said, ”Running 34 miles is far from easy; it’s very daunting and it takes a lot of training. But it is much less daunting then what those 343 firefighters saw when then pulled up to the chaotic scene at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11th, 2001.” Blatt continued, “These firefighters literally saw the scariest scene any of them could have ever imagined. Yet, despite their own fears, the lives they built, the loved ones they cherished, despite it all, every single one of those 343 firefighters ran into that burning skyscraper; they ran in while everyone else was doing everything they could to get out! And each firefighter had one job on their mind; help as many out as they could, even if it meant they weren’t going to come out alive themselves. So in the end, a 34.3 mile run in their honor is the least I can do for what they did for everyone else.”

Last year, on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Blatt ran the entire 34.3 miles carrying a full size 3ft x 5ft “thin red line flag” while wearing his bright red FDNY running team singlet. A few days before the run Blatt posted a simple flyer on his social media accounts in an effort to let people in his hometown of Long Beach, NY know what he was planning to do on the 9/11 20th anniversary. People began asking Blatt, “How can I donate to support you?” Blatt was confused and he was telling supporters, “No, no I’m just going for a run to honor my FDNY brothers.” And just like that the “34.3 Foundation” was born.

Last year’s run was incredible. Blatt was met on the Long Beach Boardwalk where he started his run. At 8am he was met by his family, friends and to his surprise the Long Beach High School Track Team who showed up to run the first few miles with Blatt who let their captain run with the flag for a couple of miles. Through the Rockaway’s Blatt received many cheers and warm wishes. He ran across the Marine Parkway Bridge and into Brooklyn, along Flatbush Ave. which was filled with enthusiasm as people of all races and cultures were hollering at us “Yea! FDNY baby! Respect! Never Forget!” It was great to see all the diverse neighborhoods cheering Blatt on. They didn’t forget. What broke Blatt’s heart was Manhattan. As we ran through Union Square and Washington Square Park, it was crickets; the support he had in Brooklyn was nowhere to be found. It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to be outside yet, no cheers. In fact Blatt noticed he was getting weird looks. As Blatt made it to Manhattan’s West Side running path that runs along the Hudson River, Blatt took a minute and he began to break down a bit and shed a few tears. He began to question everything he was doing when he found himself at the foot of Ground Zero looking across West Street at the Freedom Tower. People seemed confused. He heard people saying, “Why is that guy running with that big flag? It’s taking up so much room.” Regardless, Blatt snapped out of it and that’s when he realized that he had to make this foundation work. “Bigger and better next time,” Blatt told himself. “More flags, more firefighters and people running, maybe we even a chant!” Blatt had realized that he needs to do something more to keep the memories of the lost 343 FDNY alive. Blatt will not allow the memories of those men to just fade away. Blatt decided to turn “miles into memories” and that is the mission of the 34.3 Foundation.

Earlier, this year Blatt’s good friend and FDNY brother, Jesse Gerhard died in the line of duty. Blatt was devastated and shocked. This was a huge learning and growing experience for him. The financial challenges placed on the firehouse after a firefighter dies in a line of duty death are many. All the planning for family transportation, food, funeral arrangements, wakes, flowers, as well decals for the fire truck; it all adds up and it is a lot of money. Blatt thought that if he could help support families of lost firefighters during their worst moments by raising and donating a few thousand dollars to the firehouse fund, then he’d be doing his part. Blatt said, “If there is any possible way that I can financially help families through the 34.3 Foundation, my job is done.”