October 9, 2026 — PEF Division 357 (ITS) members, family and friends, climbed 819 steps – 42 floors – to the Observation Deck of Corning Tower in downtown Albany on September 19, as part of the Capital Region Tunnel to Towers Climb.
Every single one made it to the top.
“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created in honor of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001,” said team leader Christopher Bolduc. “Today, the foundation supports first responders, military members, veterans, and their families.”
The foundation provides, among other things, mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families, builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and works to address veteran homelessness.
Bolduc said this is the first time ITS has created a team for the climb.
“I intended to register as an individual,” he said. “I noticed there was an option to participate as part of a group, including a workplace group, so I searched for NYS and then for ITS and didn’t find one.”
The idea took off and at a Division 357 Stewards meeting, Bolduc made a motion asking the Division to sponsor and support Team ITS.
“The motion passed unanimously, and PEF really got behind us,” Bolduc said. “The Division provided ITS/PEF shirts for every member of our group. What started as me just planning to sign up on my own turned into something we were able to do together as ITS employees, friends, and family, with support from PEF.”
Climbers ranged in age from 5 to 75 years old.
“What really stayed with me was seeing everyone on our team make it to the top,” Bolduc said. “We had people of very different ages and fitness levels, and everyone took on the same 809 steps. Seeing every single member of our group reach the top was pretty special.”
ITS member Sanju Sharma participated in the climb after witnessing the horrors of Sept. 11, on the news in high school.
“I participated in this meaningful cause to honor all the brave service members, firefighters and first responders who have selflessly dedicated their lives to serving and protecting others,” Sharma said. “As a high school student, I witnessed the 9/11 tragedy unfold on the news, but at that time I could not fully comprehend the magnitude of their sacrifice. Years later, when my brother joined the U.S. Army and completed his active duty with the Army National Guard-New York in June, I gained a deeper appreciation for the courage, commitment and dedication.
“We may never fully repay those who have sacrificed, but we can honor their service, remember their courage, and carry their legacy forward,” Sharma continued. “With profound gratitude and respect, I honor all those who served, all those who continue to serve and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They will never be forgotten.”
Fellow participant Uma Kadaramandalgi also joined to honor the fallen.
“I participated in the Tunnel to Towers Challenge because I enjoy taking part in physical challenges,” Uma Kadaramandalgi said. “When I learned that the event supports firefighters who sacrificed their lives during the 9/11 attacks, I felt compelled to join. It was a meaningful way to honor their courage and remember their sacrifice.”
Bolduc is proud of ITS and PEF’s support.
“Division 357 gave us tremendous support from the beginning, and it turned out what could have been a handful of individuals participating separately into something that really felt like a team effort,” Bolduc said. “We’d like this to become an annual ITS tradition.”
Council Leader Christopher Ford said participating in the climb highlighted the solidarity of his coworkers, who are integrated with PEF members from almost every executive agency.
“ITS did not exist at the time of 9/11 but our precursor agency OFT and other agencies experienced losses and many of us still remember the exact moment we heard the news – from where we were to what we were thinking,” he said. “While all of our experiences vary, they bring us together for a shared sense of community. When Christopher Bolduc requested that the Division support a team for Tunnel to Towers, the response from our Council was how do we get it done. We wondered why we had not already done this. I am incredibly proud of our Division response and of the team, all of whom made it to the top of the Corning Tower!
“Tunnel to Towers honors the life and sacrifice of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller and all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001,” he added. “The spirit I saw on the day of the events honors us all and gives hope for our future.”
Team ITS climbers were Ion Timotin, Das Balakrishnan, Team Captain Christopher Bolduc, Matthew Brockbank, Oleg Gavrilov, Richard Hichman, Raymond Hickok. Uma Kadaramandalgi, Sanju Sharma, Reissa Sookraj, Marcy Stevens, Todd Stevens, Gaurav Upadhyay, and Supriya Walvekar.
In addition to climbing, the ITS team raised $1,330 (the fourth highest) for the foundation. Other volunteers and donors were Ticia McGean, Heather Craven, Christopher J. Ford, Rita Jordan, Robert Jordan, and PEF Region 5.