First responders, Shelby students & staff run steps to commemorate 9/11

SHELBY — Bryce Imars was too young on Sept. 11, 2001, to have any clue of the horror spreading across the United States.

A 2017 Madison High School graduate, Imars has spent about the past three years serving as a trooper for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Although he has no recollection of that horrific day 24 years ago, the 26-year-old wanted to organize an event with other local first responders to remember all who lost their lives at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, including the heroic first responders.

With some calculations, Imars determined that running 110 flights of steps at Shelby’s Whippet Athletic Complex would equal about the same amount of stairs in the World Trade Center — roughly 2,071 stairs, he said.

“The reason behind it is just to commemorate the events on 9/11,” he said.

But Imars also wants to make sure the events from that day are never forgotten by local high school students — none of which were alive in 2001.

“We do this just to help inform them of what went on and remind them of the events that happened on that day,” he said.

**American flags line the sidewalk leading up to the Whippet Athletic Complex entrance in Shelby.** *Credit: Hayden Gray*

Students, staff join Imars on run

All local first responders were invited to join the Thursday morning event.

Shelby High School Principal John Gies said students were invited to join Imars on his run. District teachers were also invited to take their classes to the WAC to cheer on participants.

Imars estimated it would take him about an hour to complete the 110 flights of steps. But he said gym classes at the high school planned to keep it going throughout the entirety of the school day.

He said the opportunity to involve students was a great way to remind them of the significance of Sept. 11, 2001, in American history.

“It keeps the memory of it, those events, alive — just so they don’t fade out,” Imars said.