Just a week and a half before the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, FDNY firefighter and avid runner Etan Blatt felt a deep calling to do something meaningful to honor the memory of the 343 FDNY members who gave their lives that day. In a moment of inspiration, he decided to run from his hometown of Long Beach, NY to Ground Zero in lower Manhattan—a distance of exactly 34.3 miles, symbolizing one mile for each fallen firefighter.

The run was not just about endurance—it was about sacrifice. “Running 34 miles is tough,” Blatt said, “but it’s nothing compared to what those 343 members faced when they arrived at the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11. They ran into those burning towers while everyone else was trying to get out, with one mission: to save as many lives as possible, even if it meant losing their own.”

Initially, Blatt was torn about running on 9/11. FDNY tradition holds that if you’re not working in the firehouse on that day, you’re expected to attend a memorial or ceremony. But after speaking with senior members of the department, he came to understand that his run could be a powerful tribute—one that honored the fallen in his own way.

On the morning of September 11, 2021, Blatt set out wearing his bright red FDNY Running Team singlet and carrying a full-size 3’ x 5’ Thin Red Line flag. He posted a flyer to social media beforehand, simply to let people in his community know what he was doing. To his surprise, people began reaching out: “How can I donate to support you?” At first, he insisted he wasn’t doing it for money. But their interest sparked something bigger—and the 34.3 Foundation was born.

The response to that first run was overwhelming. Blatt was joined at the Long Beach boardwalk by friends, family, and even the Long Beach High School Track Team, who ran the first few miles with him. As he made his way through the Rockaways and Brooklyn, strangers cheered him on. “Yea, FDNY baby! Respect! Never Forget!” people shouted from stoops and sidewalks, a diverse chorus of support from every neighborhood he passed.

But the energy shifted when he reached Manhattan. As he ran through Union Square and Washington Square Park, the cheers faded. People stared, puzzled. “Why is that guy running with that big flag?” someone whispered. By the time he reached the West Side path near Ground Zero, emotions overwhelmed him. Standing in the shadow of the Freedom Tower, he broke down in tears. He began to question his mission.

Then came a moment of clarity: this wasn’t just a run—it was a movement. Blatt told himself, “Next year, bigger and better. More flags, more firefighters, more runners. Maybe even a chant.” He realized that the memory of the 343 couldn’t be left to fade. They deserved to be remembered—actively, intentionally, and loudly.

That’s when the mission of the 34.3 Foundation truly crystallized: to turn miles into memories. The foundation would become a living tribute to the fallen, ensuring their names and sacrifices were never forgotten.

The mission deepened with heartbreak. The following February, Blatt lost a close friend and fellow firefighter, Jesse Gerhard, in the line of duty. Experiencing that loss firsthand revealed the heavy toll such tragedies take—not just emotionally, but financially. The cost of funeral arrangements, travel for family, flowers, food, decals for the truck—it all adds up quickly.

That’s when Blatt saw the full potential of the 34.3 Foundation—not just as a memorial, but as a source of real, tangible support for the families and firehouses left behind. “If there’s any way I can help ease that burden, even a little,” Blatt said, “then my job is done.”

Today, the 34.3 Foundation continues to grow—carrying on the legacy of those who ran into fire so that others could live, and making sure their memory runs on with every step we take.