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BERLIN PLEDGE TO NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS

Close links between a New York fireman and the upcoming real,- BERLIN MARATHON have resulted in a race fund being organised in the German capital for the families of those firefighters and police lost in the World Trade Center disaster last Tuesday.

2001-09-22

A New York fireman for 20 years, Victor Sailer is also a well-known figure as a photographer throughout the world of track and field athletics. In that capacity he has been shooting the real,- BERLIN MARATHON for US newspapers and magazines since 1995. As soon as the Berlin organisers ascertained that Sailer was safe after the attack last week, they set up a fund, to which they hope all 40,000+ participants in this years race on September 30, will contribute.

Berlin race director, Horst Milde said: "As an organization in a big city, we understand the role of institutions like the Fire and Police Departments. This is also a way to express our thanks to the Americans who protected Berlin for such a long time in the Cold War. Our personal friendship with Victor, a New York firemen made it even more fitting".

Sailer, who is based in Queens, had just come off night-duty last Tuesday when the terrorist attacks on the WTC began. Only when he arrived home on Long Island, and saw the first tower collapse did he become aware of the full impact of the attack. "Its the worse fear, as a firefighter in New York City. We attack the fire from the interior, and at that point I knew I had lost at least 100 fellow firefighters, I couldn believe it.

"Then a note came across the TV screen, for all firefighters to return to NYC. When the second building had collapsed, all I could think is that we probably at least doubled the tragedy. I worked for hours, through the day and night. No one photo can describe it. Thousands and thousands of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical workers, volunteer firefighters from as far away as Sacramento, working together, bucket by bucket, to sift through the rubble; construction and iron workers, with cranes, trucks and every imaginable piece of equipment to move girders, beams, etc".

"When the organizers of the BERLIN MARATHON said they would take up a charity for the NYC Firefighters Widows and Orphan fund, it was such an overwhelming emotion that an event so far away from New York would think of doing something so special to remember all of these dedicated, hard working individuals, their familes and friends who will miss them".

The Berlin organisers have asked all runners to wear a black ribbon in sympathy, and details of the special bank account which has been opened are: Berliner Bank; code 100 200 00; account number 0845 339 000/ Feuerwehr/Polizei New York