Season 2 EP16 - Tunnels to Towers 5k Race - Linda Morelli

Welcome to Season 2 - Episode 16 of The Bridge to Kindness Project Podcast.

On this Episode you will hear from the following organization:

Tunnels to Towers 5k Race - Linda Morelli, Co-Director                         00:00 - 25:30

Each episode features interviews on how you can be involved, volunteer, donate and make a difference being a part of these non-profits in our region.  To learn how your organization can become a part of The Bridge to Kindness project send an email to theBridgetoKindness@gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!  New episodes air each week at 1pm on Saturdays.

You can also find out about The Bridge to Kindness Project by visiting our website at www.TheBridgetoKindness.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Welcome to season two and episode 16 of the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. I'm Ron Smith. This podcast is made possible through the generosity of TPS, signature carpet care, expressions floral design, and Lindsay Honda. On our website, thebridgekindness.com, you'll find out more about our mission and have access to links to the organization's websites that we spotlight, as well as an archive of the interviews we have here on the podcast. We would love to hear from you. Whether you're a volunteer or you lead a nonprofit organization, you can reach us through the website or email us at thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. Today we welcome Linda Morelli, co-director of the Tunnels to Towers 5K Race, taking place in Westerville, Ohio on May 17th.

SPEAKER_05 1:02

Well, thank you. Happy to be here and thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

You're welcome. Can you share with us a little bit about how you first learned about Tunnels to Towers?

SPEAKER_05 1:12

Well, it's it's not a good thing, how I learned. Um, unfortunately, um I lost my husband in the line of duty. Uh, he was a Westpope police officer. And um and officer Eric Doring um both killed in the line of duty the same day. Um, but they tunnel to towers contacted the FOP about helping us out. And, you know, there's so many scams out there, nobody believed it. And um here it came true, and they ended up helping us out uh for the Joring family. Um they're a lot younger, um, paid off their mortgage. And for what they did for me was because we were about 20 years older, um, you know, our kids were out of college and everything, we had our house paid off and we were three years from retirement. But I just had my knee replaced, um, and our daughter was getting married in June. And so they gave me some money and said, here, you know, use it for, you know, whatever you need. And I mean, total strangers, never heard of them. Strangers helping strangers is what it was.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

So and now you're involved in the organization. So what what inspired you then to turn around and then get involved?

SPEAKER_05 2:40

Well, I grew up a minister's daughter and was always told to volunteer, give back, pay it forward, all of that. And both Jamie and I wanted to help, you know, help them and give back uh from the get-go. And somebody else organized a race in 2019, um, but didn't want to do it again. But then COVID hit, and then it took us a little bit to get it going, but this is our uh third year doing it.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

So what do you enjoy most about doing it?

SPEAKER_05 3:15

The people I meet, the stories. Um yeah, it's it's really about the people. Um, and everybody's got a story, how they're connected, whether they're first responders, whether you know, someone's in the military or now, you know, out of the military. It's it's the stories.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

So it obviously had a great impact on you and your family, and it's been fantastic in the way they helped you. Could you share with us how you've seen them impacted, uh impact other families?

SPEAKER_05 3:52

Oh, um, I just recently got to go to um the Tunnel Towers Foundation has different programs. And one of the programs um is they build smart homes for disabled vets that come back. Um, and I got to go to a smart house dedication in April, and it just really opens your eyes about, you know, how we don't happen to think about how how they somebody in a wheelchair, how they cook on a stove. So they build them a stove that they can get the wheelchair underneath, or shelves, you know, they pull a lever and all the shelves come down so they can reach, you know, all the spices or whatever they have up there. And, you know, ramps. Um, you know, it's just yeah, it was just really great to see that aspect of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

I I fully agree. I had the opportunity to uh visit with us as a smart home and the innovations uh that they have created to make things so much uh simpler and easy to manage. Uh yes, just amazing on things that we just take for granted uh each day, whether it be reaching down into a cabinet or trying to reach above the stove to get a can of Pam to spray on the plate. Um they make it so much easy, and and that's just in the kitchen. I mean, there's other modifications that are made throughout the home, but it it is amazing the creativity uh that um has come into uh providing a smart home uh to those who need it. And it it is a thing to enjoy if you have the if you have the opportunity to see one, uh, don't pass up. You're you won't be disappointed with it.

SPEAKER_05 5:41

It's amazing and humbling.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

You've received such benefit from being involved um with the organization. And one of our challenges that we try to have for folks through the bridge to kindness is to identify your gifts and talents and how you can apply those and serve others. So what encouragement would you give to others that are perhaps sitting on the fence and saying, you know what, I'd love to plug in, but I have no idea where. But how can I do that? What type of motivation would you give them for the results that you've seen for being involved?

SPEAKER_05 6:14

Um, you mean to help tunnel to towers?

SPEAKER_01 6:17

Yeah, or any organization for that matter.

SPEAKER_05 6:20

Um, the biggest thing is like for Tunnel to Towers is to donate. Um, they have different ways to do that. Um, you can donate monetary, um, $11 a month, um, or you can just donate a you know, flat sum. Um, volunteer. Um, if you're a business sponsor, a race, um, a lot of people don't realize that they see the commercial online and don't realize here in Columbus there is an actual race in Westerville. And, you know, we need sponsorship. Um, we need people to volunteer to at packet pickup, to hand water out, uh, hand, we got city barbecue to serve the city barbecue, Cheryl's cookies, you know, um, or just even throughout the uh course, you know, to point, make sure people go the direct correct way. Um, there's just so many different ways, just even set up and tear down. Um, it it takes a lot. And the I think the first thing you need to do is whether you want to help Tunnel the Towers or some other organization, is you just need to reach out and contact whatever organization that is.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

When we come back, we'll talk with Linda about the course and some of its unique features that really make it special and memorable. That comes your way next as the Birch the Kindness Podcast continues. I'm Ron Smith. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_04 8:00

You're listening to the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to encourage you to identify your gifts and talents and to help you identify ways that you can use those to bless others and serve your community. For additional information about the Bridge to Kindness Project or any of the guests appearing on today's podcast, visit www.thebridge tokindness.com or email us at thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. This podcast is made possible through the kindness of EPS, signature carpet care, expressions floral design, and Lindsay Honda.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

I'm Ron Smith. With us is Linda Morelli, co-director of the Tunnels to Towers 5K race, taking place in Westerville, Ohio, on May 17th. Linda, can you share with us about the course of what makes it so special?

SPEAKER_05 9:16

It's a 5K, and we we are very different. We have a different course. We aren't like any other race. Um we are at the Westville Sports Complex, and we have you run through a fire station. So, you know, when you come out of the fire station, you know, we got the two fire trucks with the ladders with the flag hanging. And then we have you run through um first responder park. Westville has a first responder park, and so you get to run through that, and it is dedicated to uh three of our first responders that we've lost. But it but it also um we have a piece of metal from 21. So that's very cool. A lot of people stop and take pictures of that. Um yeah, and but we're so sorry. Um we also ask, uh, we have you wear a badge, and that badge is a picture of someone, one of the first responders that passed away from 9-11, and you get to choose it at packet pickup, and you're representing them as you run. So it's it's a little different than other races.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

How many participants do you usually have?

SPEAKER_05 10:36

Um, last year we had about 500. Yeah, so we're hoping, hoping for more.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

That's a great turnout. My goodness.

SPEAKER_05 10:46

Oh, it's it's amazing. We raised um over $45,000 last year, and right now we're at $49,000. Um yeah, so it's I I can't tell you how personal it is to me. Um last year, the morning of the race, I I woke up. I'm fortunate it was like 4 30 in the morning because we had a setup, and I reached for my phone. I'm not even out of bed, and I go to see how many people are signed up. And it was 467 at that time. And I just started crying because that was my husband's badge number, 467. And I said that if you ever need a sign that you know you're doing good or keep going, that was my sign. So I mean, there's yeah, it's just so sentimental and very passionate for me to do this and help other people.

SPEAKER_01 11:48

What's the uh date and time and location of your event?

SPEAKER_05 11:52

Um, it is Sunday, May 17th, um, 9 a.m. And it is at the Westville Sports Complex here in Westerville. Um, we do have a quick little 15-minute ceremony uh with honor guard and um national anthem um right before the service. But um yeah, please come out, spread the word. And Tunnel to Towers has a great logo. Um while we have time, let us do good. And I just think it's something to live by.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

So besides that um motto and logo that you mentioned, what what would you say now is your personal mission statement that you have?

SPEAKER_05 12:43

Um I guess I don't really have one. Um I just I try to do, you know, I was brought up to give back to volunteer, and you know, I read somewhere that you should always do one nice thing every day for someone else. So maybe that's it. Do one nice thing for someone else, even if it's just simple like holding the door for someone, you know, it doesn't have to be elaborate.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Why do you why has this been so rewarding for you now?

SPEAKER_05 13:22

Because I see I've I've seen tunnel to towers grow in the last eight years. I've I've seen everybody that they've helped. Um I've met people, other people that they've helped. Um it's yeah, it's just amazing to hear their stories. And I mean, I met this one woman and she sorry, I'm gonna cry. She had this tiny little baby. Her baby was nine months old, and she lost her husband four months ago. And it's just amazing, you know, to hear her story about how they helped her and they they paid off her home so she could raise her child in that home. Um, it's a big relief. It's one of the biggest worries you have. Um, and it's like a fairy godmother came and took it, you know, took that worry away.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

So do you get to see um the results um from what's done through your event here in the Columbus region?

SPEAKER_05 14:33

Um if I mean, yes and no. I mean, I see how much we have to give, um, but I don't know exactly where that money goes. Um, because it is a nationwide and they have, you know, or foundation and they have different programs. Um yeah, they even have a program that they've started the last couple years of um renovating like hotels or building places for homeless vets. So, and they give them counseling, they help with jobs. Sorry, Tracy, that's kind of your expertise. Um, but yeah, I mean, it's again, they have grown so much just in eight years, but um it started from 9-11. So this is the 25th year they've been around helping people. Um it started with a family, the uh Siller family, and they lost um a brother. He was a New York uh firefighter. And yeah, they just started a race there in New York and it's just grown nationwide.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

What else would you like to add and share with us today?

SPEAKER_05 15:52

Um get involved. Uh it's it's easy. Um, there again, there's so many different ways. Um come out, register, it's uh great, you know, walk, uh, bring your kids, bring the dogs, you know. And we'll be just city barbecue and Cheryl's cookies afterwards.

SPEAKER_01 16:16

Is there a website that uh we can promote to let people know where to sign up and get in contact with you?

SPEAKER_05 16:23

Um yeah, you can uh sign up uh to do the walk or donate um at runwalk at westerville um at t2t.org.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Excellent.

SPEAKER_05 16:36

So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

I'd like to open it up to turn to uh the folks that have joined us today to uh be a part of the meeting, uh to Caitlin and Tracy and Rocky. Is there anything that you would like to add or ask of Linda? Tracy, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Um, just a couple things. Thank you, Linda, for sharing all of that information. My heart does go out to you. Um, I'm I'm happy that you are in Tunnel to Towers, but I'm sad for the reason why you got involved for Tunnelton Towers. Please know my heart has always gone out to you. I remember that Saturday sitting in my living room. I live on spring in college, and I heard the mass pandemonium of sirens, and I looked at my husband and I said, Something's not right. And again, I'm very, very sorry for your loss. And and my heart goes out. Thank you. Appreciate it. There was also another race last month in small Nelsonville, Ohio. Nelsonville, Ohio has a population of 5,000 people, if that. And um, they had a great turnout down there as well. So um I guess for one of those things going forward, if you're not able to do the Westerville Tunnel to Towers, which is usually in May, okay, think about the April one. You know, Nelsonville's an hour away from where I live. Nelsonville is Westerville. Another easy way I have found to donate um is to donate a vehicle. So I reached out to Tunnel to Towers. I have an older explorer that I didn't want to sell, I didn't want to turn a dime. I wanted to give it to charity. I wanted to give it specifically to Tunnel to Towers. So it they made it so incredibly easy. I went online, Tunnel to Towers donate car, and I filled out my information. And that same day, a woman called me. She asked me some questions, it was very quick, gave me instructions, sent me a follow-up email with the written instructions on what to do with the title. And she actually made it so simple she was ready to have someone come out the next day to pick it up, but I wasn't ready. So she's coming out, they're sending a tow service out Friday to my home to pick up the vehicle. So um, there's another way to get involved and to donate.

SPEAKER_05 18:58

I learned something new. I didn't even know we could do that.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

And it was a super simple process. It it wasn't, I didn't, I'd put it off and put it off for so long because I'm like, oh, this is just gonna be another headache to worry about, but this is what I wanted to do. Finally, I did it. I'm like, wow. I mean, it was easier to donate a vehicle than it was to change my phobe plan through ATT.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

So, how about you?

SPEAKER_02 19:31

I'll just say that as you know, someone who was a 9-11 soldier, right? I was serving when 9-11 happened. Um, I went to Iraq a couple times and Afghanistan too. Um it encourages me a lot to see people like Linda getting involved, right? Like it it does because you know they always say, like she said earlier, your time, your talent, your treasure, right? Like those are things that you can easily donate, right? Like some sometimes people say, Well, I don't have money. Okay, well, you have time, right? Sometimes you have a talent, right? There's there's there's just things you can do. Me and my wife, for example, you know, our we have four boys, um, and our third son is about to leave for college. So now I have three boys out of my house, right? Two in the military, one in college. So I have one son and the time for four sons. So, you know, like what do I do with that time, right? Yeah, I give a little more extra to my wife, I give a little more extra to my my uh other son. But we were talking about what if we gave it a little more to volunteering, right? And other things that we could do, you know, for our date night. Maybe we volunteer for a date night. There's a lot of things that you can do um to get involved in your community, you know. Um, my brother is an LEPD officer, so you know, thinking about all the different things that they go through and knowing all the things that he goes through, it just makes me, you know, want to make sure that I'm always giving it back, I'm always paying it forward, I'm always making the day worth the sacrifice. And I, you know, like I've told you many times, Ron, you know, I really do try to wake up every morning and say, Am I earning it today? Right. So, you know, that's one of those things that um I think if we all ask ourselves, we probably get a little more involved with a lot of different things. So I appreciate you, Linda. I appreciate you, Tracy. You know, um, and of course, Caitlin, I'll let her wrap it up because she's the one who keeps us all organized over here at EPS. But uh, you know, she definitely knows uh my heart and she's definitely helped us stay on track to making sure we do all the things that we commit to. So I appreciate what you're doing there, uh, Ron with the British kindness.

SPEAKER_03 21:37

Well, thank you, Rocky, for your service too. We we appreciate you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Um, I did the tunnels to towers for the first time last year. Um, again, introduced through Tracy. Um, had never done a 5K before, and my fiance was like, You're gonna do your first 5K without me there to support you. And I said, Well, it's a really good cause. So you're just gonna have to get over it. Um and like uh Linda said earlier, walking through that fire station and under the um the two fire trucks and the flag, it was just it was just beyond moving. You know, we don't we don't know what we don't know. So it's nice to be involved and to experience things even on a very small level um that matter. So I appreciate it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Well Linda, thank you for being with us. Is there any out anything else you would like to add today?

SPEAKER_05 22:36

Uh no, just come on out May 17th. We'll be there. Thank you. Rocky, you coming?

SPEAKER_02 22:46

Yes, I'm signed up already.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 23:00

So, you know, there's a full generation of kids that are growing up that don't nothing about this, right? Because it happened 25 years ago. And I think it's it's super and and the sacrifices since then of all the firemen, police officers, soldiers, everybody that has, you know, given the ultimate sacrifice. Like, I just think it's super important that we never forget these people and that we always remember, you know, they were the best of us, and we need to earn it. So thank you.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Linda, you had something else you'd like to add to share with us today that uh really uh put an input on your heart. Can you share that with us?

SPEAKER_05 23:38

Um last year we had, well, the last two years, we've had um first responders and military come um in full gear and do the race. And that makes a very uh big impact also. You know, one, I can barely do a 5k um walk it. And these people are doing it in full gear. And you know, they're doing it to pay homage to those that have lost, you know, they've lost. And it just it really hits you in the heart.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

Kind of gives another level to the word, the the phrase walk a mile in my shoes.

SPEAKER_05 24:19

Exactly. Wow, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

That's that's a powerful image to uh to think about. Well thank you for sharing that.

SPEAKER_05 24:31

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 24:33

Our first responders and military personnel are really our heroes of today, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude and thanks for their service. That brings to a close this edition of the Bridge the Kindness podcast. This podcast is made possible through the generosity of EPS, signature carpet care, expressions floral design, and Lindsay Honda. Special thanks to Linda Morelli. Take a moment and think about how you can engage with a nonprofit or an organization in your community to make a difference in those around you. Join us again on our next episode, and we'll profile more individuals and nonprofits in the Columbus region and share how they help people and how you can be involved. Until then, from all of us at the Bridge to Kindness, I'm Ron Smith. Make a difference, make an impact.