NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of New Yorkers ran a few miles on Sunday to remember a heroic firefighter who was killed during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.

    The sixth annual "Tunnel to Towers Run," which kicked off on Sunday morning, retraced the route that firefighter Stephen Siller made to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, when a series of terrorist attacks were launched against targets in the United States. More than 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.

    Siller ran three miles with full gear through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He later died in rescuing people from the towers.

    Many participants including firefighters, soldiers and construction workers, lined the route from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Organizers said about 20,000 people signed up to participate in the race.

    Republican presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was also on hand to greet the runners.