Tunnel to Towers 5K Returns to Cypress for Fifth Year of Honoring First Responders and Military Heroes
For many Cypress and Northwest Houston families, the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk Greater Houston Area is more than a race. It is a chance to walk beside local firefighters, law enforcement officers, veterans, military families and neighbors while remembering the sacrifices that continue to shape communities across the country.
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Cypress, TX / Northwest Houston will return for its fifth year at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, at John Paul Landing Park’s Environmental Education Center, located at 9950 Katy Hockley Road in Cypress.
Organized in partnership with Harris County Precinct 4, the family-friendly 5K invites participants of all ages and fitness levels to run, walk or experience the course together. The event will also raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military service members and their families.
As of the latest event update, the Cypress and Northwest Houston fundraiser had collected $5,460 toward its $50,000 goal.
A Cypress Tradition Built Around Service and Remembrance
The Cypress event began as a local extension of the national Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk Series, which was created to honor New York City firefighter Stephen Siller.
On September 11, 2001, Siller had finished his shift and was on his way to play golf when he learned that a plane had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. After discovering that the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel had been closed to traffic, he strapped on his firefighting gear and ran through the tunnel toward the Twin Towers, where he lost his life while helping others.
The annual race series keeps his story alive while honoring all those who died in the September 11 attacks, as well as the first responders and military members who continue to make extraordinary sacrifices.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation describes its mission through the mantra, “While we have time, LET US DO GOOD.”
That message has found a meaningful home in Cypress, where the event has grown into a gathering centered on gratitude, remembrance and support for those who serve.
Organizers said the local event is intended to bring together communities that “wholeheartedly support our Firefighters, Law Enforcement officers, and Military that have served in the past, present, and those who will also follow in their footsteps in the future.”
What Participants Can Expect at the 2026 Tunnel to Towers Cypress 5K
The Tunnel to Towers Cypress 5K course is approximately 3.1 miles. Participants may run or walk, making the event accessible to competitive runners, casual walkers, families and community groups.
The race begins at 7:30 a.m. at John Paul Landing Park, a Harris County Precinct 4 park serving Cypress and the surrounding Northwest Houston area. The park’s open spaces and Environmental Education Center provide a community-focused setting for the annual tribute.
The event is expected to draw firefighters, law enforcement officers, active-duty military members, veterans, families and residents who simply want to show their support.
For some participants, the morning will be about reaching a personal fitness goal. For others, it will be a time to carry the name or memory of someone who served. Together, those individual reasons create a larger message about the value Cypress and Northwest Houston place on public service.
“We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and we thank YOU for coming together for this historical event in our little corner of the world to make a difference in the lives of those we have pledged to support,” organizers shared in the event description.
Registration Prices and August Deadline
Registration is currently open, with the next price increase scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Current registration prices are:
- Adults: $35
- First responders and military members: $30
- Youth ages 13 to 17: $20
- Children ages 12 and younger: $10
Residents interested in participating can sign up through the official Tunnel to Towers Cypress/Northwest Houston event website.
Signing up before the August 19 price increase gives families and teams an opportunity to participate at the current rates while helping organizers build momentum toward the $50,000 fundraising goal.
Why the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Mission Matters Locally
The money raised through Tunnel to Towers events helps support programs for the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families, catastrophically injured service members and other military heroes.
That national mission carries a deeply local meaning in Cypress, Tomball, Katy and Northwest Houston, where firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, veterans and military families are part of everyday neighborhood life.
One example of that impact can be seen in the Tunnel to Towers Veteran Village in Houston. The development provides permanent, supportive housing for homeless veterans, offering them not only a place to live but also access to resources that help them regain stability and independence. The village reflects the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that those who served the country have a safe place to call home.
The event gives residents a practical way to show appreciation beyond words. Every registration, donation, volunteer shift and step along the course contributes to a broader effort to assist families facing life-changing loss or injury.
It also offers younger participants an opportunity to learn why communities continue to remember September 11 and why the service of first responders and military members remains important.
A Community Event for Runners, Walkers and Supporters
Residents do not need to be experienced runners to take part in the Tunnel to Towers 5K. The event is designed for people to move at their own pace, whether they are running for a personal record, walking with children or joining a team representing a local organization.
Those who cannot participate in the 5K can still support the cause by donating, volunteering or encouraging runners and walkers along the route.
Community groups, businesses, first responder departments, military organizations, schools and neighborhood teams may also use the event as a way to participate together and represent the people they serve.
For the Cypress and Northwest Houston communities, the fifth annual Tunnel to Towers 5K offers a shared moment to pause, remember and act. It turns gratitude into something visible: neighbors walking side by side for families who have sacrificed more than most will ever be asked to give.
What Happens Next
The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Cypress, TX / Northwest Houston will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, at John Paul Landing Park, 9950 Katy Hockley Road in Cypress.
Registration remains open, with prices scheduled to increase on August 19. The local campaign is working toward a $50,000 fundraising goal, and donations can continue to help close the gap as race day approaches.
Residents can find registration and event information at runwalkcypressnorthwesthouston.t2t.org.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more updates on community events, nonprofit initiatives and opportunities to support local causes across Cypress and Northwest Houston.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.