BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — As the 24th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, hundreds of individuals congregated at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday morning for the Tri-Cities 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

Residents joined local first responders in climbing 110 stories to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001, terrorist incidents. This number mirrors the stories of the World Trade Center towers that tragically collapsed on that day.

Along with the civilians in the towers, 343 firefighters lost their lives while attempting to rescue people within the buildings. Many of the participants at Saturday’s stair climb at Bristol Motor Speedway donned full gear to pay homage to the first responders who sacrificed their lives on 9/11.

“Indeed, many firefighters bore their gear, complete with air packs and hose packs,” explained event committee member Jared Lindholm. “Each climber carries a tag of a firefighter or police officer who died on September 11th, aiming to experience their journey, bearing their weight climbing those stairs in remembrance.”

Lindholm shared that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Tri-Cities 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The event began at the Holston Valley Medical Center’s parking garage with about eight participants, but it has since expanded to the speedway, now drawing over 700 participants.

Lindholm added that the memorial event shows the dedication to community that the region has.