North Shore-LIJ Teams with Former Giant on "Journey for 9/11"
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Former defensive end George Martin never shied away from a challenge during his 13 years with the New York Giants, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks and running backs, most notably a crucial sack of Denver Broncos’ quarterback John Elway in the end zone during Super Bowl XXI. The play produced a safety and a huge momentum shift for the Giants, who went on to win their first Super Bowl championship on Jan. 25, 1987. Mr. Martin, the team’s co-captain during that magical season, has lived and worked in the New York area since retiring from football in 1988, devoting extensive time and energy to a range of great causes, including helping inner-city kids and developing youth football programs. His latest challenge will require far more energy than chasing down Hall of Fame quarterbacks like John Elway. Beginning this Sunday, September 16, Mr. Martin will begin a 3,000-mile walk across America to raise money and awareness for first-responders who developed illnesses related to World Trade Center terrorist attacks and their aftermath. The goal of his mission, called “Journey for 9/11,” is to raise at least $10 million for medical care for Ground Zero workers.
The North Shore-LIJ Health System has agreed to partner with Mr. Martin by providing medical care to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first-responders. “Many of the heroes from Ground Zero are our friends and neighbors who live in the communities we serve across Long Island, Queens and Staten Island,” said Michael J. Dowling, the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s president and chief executive officer. “Our doors are open to them, whether they need care for pulmonary problems such as lung disease, asthma or chronic sinusitis, or mental health counseling for post-traumatic stress syndrome.”
After beginning his walk this Sunday, September 16, at the George Washington Bridge, Mr. Martin will go to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, where the Giants play their regular season home opener against the Green Bay Packers. Mr. Martin will be introduced to the stadium crowd during a half-time ceremony, where he will talk about his upcoming “Journey for 9/11.” Among former teammates supporting Mr. Martin’s efforts are former quarterback Phil Simms, a game analyst on CBS-TV, and Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson. During his walk across America, Mr. Martin will travel through 15 states, making stops along the way to generate attention for his fundraising efforts. The final destination is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which Mr. Martin hopes to reach by January. “Football players and other athletes are often called ‘heroes,’ but the job that thousands of rescue and recovery workers performed at Ground Zero in the days and months after 9/11, that was true heroism,” said Mr. Martin, 54, who works as vice president of AXA Sports Financial Services in Manhattan. “It is said that time heals all wounds, but six years after America suffered its biggest tragedy in the modern era, these heroes’ wounds are still, unfortunately, wide open. The purpose of this journey is simple – to raise awareness, raise funds and do anything in my power to help these heroes heal.” To contribute or find out more about “Journey for 9/11,” go to: www.ajourneyfor911.info Media Contact: Terry Lynam 516-465-2640/2600 |
