The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is fortunate to have many wonderful, corporate sponsors including Carpet One Floor & Home. Carpet One Floor & Home, along with its partner, Mohawk Industries, provides all of the flooring and installation for the smart homes built through our Building for America’s Bravest program. However, its support has not stopped there! Carpet One Floor & Home stores across the country are raising funds through point of purchase donations to support Building for America’s Bravest.
The Taylor Carpet One Floor & Home stores in Southwestern Florida have taken their commitment to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to the next level as supporters of our Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk Series. As a result, we are pleased to introduce you to Brittany and Lauren! Lauren’s family owns various Taylor Carpet One Floor & Home stores. Through her family’s efforts to raise funds in their stores, and to assist with the home build of SGT Corey Kent in Cape Coral, Lauren and her friend, Brittany, became inspired to do more to assist the Foundation and our Building for America’s Bravest program as volunteer race directors for the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in Fort Myers, Florida!
Below please find Lauren and Brittany’s story of friendship, how the lifelong friends became inspired to support our military heroes, and their vow to “never forget by doing good” during the 15th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Lauren and I have known each other since we were on rival soccer teams in elementary school. Growing up in the relatively small community of Fort Myers we have been friends for many years. We attended different elementary and middle schools, but went to the same high school and college (Florida State). Go Noles!
From the time of struggling to keep up with my mom as a young runner through training for the 2016 New York City Marathon, running has always been a passion of mine. See you in November, New York! During high school, I convinced Lauren to join the track team so we could continue to spend time together even after the last bell rang. Over the years, we have run many road races together that have supported different foundations and causes. It is always fascinating to us how communities come together to support causes they are familiar with or might be learning about for the first time.
We are truly honored to be the race directors for the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in September.
Lauren and I first found out about the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation through their partnership with Carpet One. Lauren’s family owns multiple Carpet One stores in Southwest Florida and are big advocates of raising money for the Foundation through every purchase made. In the neighboring city of Cape Coral, SGT Corey Kent, a deserving veteran will be receiving a smart home through the Foundation’s Building for America’s Bravest program. Corey has been working closely with Taylor Carpet One to select the flooring he would like in his new home. It is an honor to know him and see the excitement him and his fiancé have at this monumental time in their lives.
Lauren and I have different connections to the tragedy on 9/11, however, like so many Americans we have a common connection of remembering that day and moving forward; people helping people. Whether it is putting countless hours into planning the logistics of the day of the race or going out into the community to explain Stephen’s story, this is all to help those in need. The funds we raise, as race directors and volunteers, will make a greater impact than any of us will ever imagine. From SGT Corey Kent, who will be receiving a wonderful new home, to the younger generation participating in the event who were not even alive at the time of the devastating tragedy to America, it will make a difference.
Best,
Brittany and Lauren
Fort Myers Race Directors
Thank you, Lauren and Brittany, for taking your inspiration and turning it into reality! We are so pleased to have you as members of the T2T Team and welcome you as you join us in our mission to “never forget by doing good.”
We continue to be amazed by the wonderful, patriotic individuals that we have met throughout the country and the various connections that help form these relationships. Thank you, Taylor Carpet One Floor & Home stores, for your continued support of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and our Building for America’s Bravest program. We are so blessed to have the support of the Carpet One Floor & Home family across the country!
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in Fort Myers will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016. For more information about this event, please email fortmyers@t2t.org.