POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The eighth annual Never Forget Walk and Run took place on Friday at Powhatan High School. Runners and walkers did laps around the track for each of the 343 New York Fire Department members who died 25 years ago in the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. This year, Powhata n High School students saw a special presentation to keep the history of the attacks alive. None of the students had been born when it happened. “Fills me with pride," said Garrett Albert, a Powhatan volunteer firefighter who wasn't yet alive when the attacks took place. "Fills me with joy. And it’s just a really great feeling that I’m now honoring the fallen men and women that died that day on 9/11.”  Albert was wearing nearly 60 pounds of gear to symbolize what the firefighters were wearing as they rushed toward the World Trade Center while so many others ran away. Powhatan County volunteer firefighter Garrett Albert “This is what they usually wore when they had to climb those X amount of stories that they had to climb during 9/11," he said.   The morning started on the football field. Students gathered in the stands for the playing of Taps, and a ceremonial half-staff flag raising by the school’s JROTC cadets.   Powhatan High School JROTC cadets Then came the start of running or walking the 343 laps around the track equaling nearly 85 miles. The main run was split between three people -- Russell Holland, Jr., Stan Edwards and Bethany Britz- who ended up running around 28 miles each. The run was started in 2019 by Russell. That was the first year students who weren’t alive during the attacks were graduating, and as an ultra-runner, he was inspired to create a run to commemorate something that matters. Russell was living in Atlanta and gearing up to move to Virginia on 9/11. His mom often worked at the Pentagon, and it was hard to get through to her on the phone for several hours. Fortunately, she had not been there that day. “For us as the previous generation who was here for 9/11, it’s a really good opportunity for us to kind of get that out, unpack those emotions," he said. "And doing it with the kids is awesome because then they get to really feel what it was like to be here.”  Powhatan High School students Between each lap, three names of those who lost their lives are read aloud and accompanied by their picture. “It's one thing to say we’re gonna run 343 laps, but when you look at those 343 photographs, you really can feel the sacrifice that they had for us," Holland said. The run is also a fundraiser. Holland said the money raised goes toward first responders' mental health organizations. The event will wrap up with the rivalry football game against Midlothian High School. The start of the game will also feature a special remembrance ceremony at 6:45 p.m.  ...read more read less