New York Giants Official Website

Walking for a cause
By Giants.com

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AUGUST 7, 2009

NY - Retired NFL great George Martin, who in 2007-08 walked across the nation in support of thousands of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers from all 50 states who are now sick as a result of their service at Ground Zero, is walking for them again. On Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, Martin will be joined by several of his former New York Giants teammates and other NFL alumni, 9/11 workers, police and firefighters, and other supporters as he walks 13 miles from the George Washington Bridge (GWB) in New York into Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Participation in the fundraising event is open to members of the public who register in advance to join the Walk.

Martin's initiative, "a Journey for 9/11" www.ajourneyfor911.info, has raised nearly $3 million so far to help fund medical monitoring and treatment for these workers who now suffer from a wide variety of debilitating physical and psychological conditions. From Sept. 16, 2007 to June 21, 2008, the NFL legend walked from New York City to San Diego - 3,003 miles through parts of 13 states and Washington, DC - to raise awareness about and funds to help mitigate the medical crisis now faced by 9/11 workers.

THE 2009 COMMEMORATIVE WALK

The Sunday, Sept. 13 Journey Walk will begin at 10:00 AM ET on the New York side of the GWB. The path will go through Bergen County , NJ , (see website for exact route), and end at approximately 2:00 PM ET at Giants Stadium. Top fund raisers will participate in a tailgate party outside the Stadium, before joining Martin in a pre-game walk across the field, just prior to the start of the Giants' home opener against the Washington Redskins. Also expected to participate in that on-field ceremony will be dozens of Giants alumni from the franchise's storied history.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Participants must register in advance by visiting www.ajourneyfor911.info or by contacting 877-WALK-911 (877-925-5911). The registration fee to join the walk is $35. All registered walkers are encouraged to arrive and meet George Martin and other former Giants greats at the end of the GWB (where the bridge meets Henry Hudson Drive ) in Fort Lee , NJ at 9:00 a.m.

Additional details about registration, the pledging process and donations; parking and transportation; etc. will be announced soon. There will be at least one "on/off" spot along the route in New Jersey where participants not walking the whole route can either stop or start walking with the rest of the crowd (locations to be announced at a later date on www.ajourneyfor911.info).

The Medical Problems of Working at Ground Zero

George Martin, founder and president of a Journey for 9/11, continues to raise funds to provide medical monitoring and healthcare for 9/11 responders who suffering from chronic bronchial disease, leukemia and other cancers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, post traumatic stress disorder, depression and other serious medical conditions stemming from their service at Ground Zero after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

More than 10,000 people who live outside of the New York metropolitan area are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, including people from all 50 states. Medical studies indicate that working at Ground Zero led to serious, long-term medical problems for tens of thousands of 9/11 responders. A study by Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that nearly 70% of the 40,000+ WTC responders have suffered lung disease and other health problems; one in five has low lung capacity (five times the normal rate); one in eight developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (source: NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene); and the rate of those developing asthmatic conditions after exposure to Ground Zero is 12 times the normal adult rate.

Hackensack University Medical Center (NJ), North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Systems (NY), and the Mt. Sinai Medical Center (NY) are matching in medical services the total funds Martin's Journey donates to the hospitals. For more information about the medically-affected population and the status of federal 9/11 healthcare legislation, visit: http://maloney.house.gov/documents/911recovery/backgroundmemo.pdf

About George Martin and a Journey for 9/11

Martin is likely the first African-American professional athlete to walk coast-to-coast for charitable purposes. On his historic Journey, he faced severe rainstorms in the Northeast, freezing temperatures and driving winds in the Great Plains , and the challenging terrains and desert heat of the Southwest.

Martin was a star defensive end and co-captain of the Super Bowl XXI Champion New York Giants (1986). During his 14 NFL seasons (1975-1988), the longtime DE scored eight touchdowns, seven of them as a defensive lineman, which set an NFL record that stood until 2007. He is a former president of the NFL Players Association. Upon completing his original cross-country Journey in San Diego , Martin pledged to continue his efforts to help ailing 9/11 workers.

"These heroes need our collective support," he said. "Thousands who answered our nation's call for help now struggle to breath or walk up the steps in their homes. For many, as time passes, their medical problems are not getting better, they're getting worse. Some are dying. They deserve our help."

"This is a national problem and a national responsibility, and government funding and insurance policies are simply not adequately covering the substantial cost of this care," Martin continued. "I encourage everyone to register for and come out and join us on this walk to support these heroes."

On his 2007-08 Journey, the retired NFL great passed through portions of NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, Washington, DC; VA, TN, AR, OK, TX, NM, AZ, and CA. For his charitable efforts, Martin was named one of ABC News' 2007 "Persons of the Year," received the prestigious Heisman Humanitarian Award, and was recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey for his lifelong commitment to community service.

Donations

To make a tax deductible financial donation, mail a check to "a Journey for 9/11," P.O. Box 409, Warwick, NY 10990 or call 877-WALK-911 (877-925-5911). Contributions can also be made online via www.ajourneyfor911.info.