Ground Zero

FIREFIGHTERS are used to running into burning buildings but, despite months of training and preparation, running across the US will be a challenge.
Melbourne Fire Brigade station officer Tony Martin, of Scoresby, and leading firefighter Russell Fox are two of the seven Victorian firefighters making the 27-day, 7433-kilometre journey from Los Angeles to New York to remember those who were killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Tour of Duty - supported by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and whose patron is former prime minister John Howard - begins on August 12 and finishes at 'ground zero', the base of the World Trade Centre, at 8.46am on September 11.

The Australian contingent of 16 firefighters will join 16 American firefighters on the road to New York. "It's about us showing support for them," Mr Martin said. Regulars in firefighting fun runs, he and Mr Fox are unsure how they are going to react to running into downtown New York. "I'm emotional at the best of times," Mr Martin said. "Everybody in the world knows what they were doing on that fateful day. It's moments like these you never forget."

The firefighters will run for six hours in groups of 10 through cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Oklahoma, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, St Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

A Yarra Valley winery is also supporting the event. Rochford Wines' general manager of major events Graham Taylor is looking at options for an concert-style event later in the year to support the Tour of Duty.

Donations can be made to the Tour of Duty. The Victorian contingent is directing the funds to The Alfred hospital's burns unit.