We are pleased to highlight one of our Chapter members, Matthew Duffey, who is a local hero as a First Responder and is running the NYC Marathon in November of this year on behalf of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. 

In the early morning hours of December 14, 2022 while serving as a police officer in Arvada, Duff was dispatched to a "shots fired" call at the Village West Apartments. Upon arriving, he quickly assessed that the apartment building was actually on fire and immediately updated the call to an active structure fire.  With an apartment complex still full of people, Matt and a fellow officer began banging on doors and evacuating the residents, saving dozens of lives in the process, and ending up in the hospital himself as a result of his actions. 

While the mental, emotional and physical toll has been significant, Duff has turned to endurance sports as a path to healing.  In November, he is running the NYC marathon on behalf of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, an organization that helps Veterans, First Responders, and their families through periods of trauma. Tunnels to Towers was formed in memory of Stephen Siller, an NYC firefighter who was last seen running with his gear through the Brooklyn Tunnel towards the Twin Towers on 9/11. 

Matt has already reached his fundraising goal for the marathon, but he is still accepting donations for Tunnels to Towers on his fundraising page.

Go Navy!