By Jon Wisner, Darrin Reed Foundation

Photos by Anne Groebner

This September 11 marks 25 years since the attacks that forever changed our nation. Here in the White Mountains, our community came together at Sunrise Park Resort to honor the lives lost, to recognize the courage of our nation’s first responders, and ensure the promise “Never Forget” continues for the next generation.

Sunrise Park Resort held the Patriot Climb on Friday, September 11, 2026. The Patriot Climb is an opportunity for people of all ages to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001—including the firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders who ran toward danger while others were trying to escape. Twenty-five years later, their courage still matters.

That sacrifice extends far beyond that tragic morning. In the decades since, thousands more first responders and survivors have lost their lives to toxic exposures, cancers, and respiratory illnesses stemming from Ground Zero—a stark reminder that the true toll of September 11 continues to grow.

For those of us involved with the Darrin Reed Foundation, this event carries a deeply personal message. Our Foundation was created to honor the life and legacy of Show Low Police Officer Darrin Reed, who was killed in the line of duty on November 8, 2016. Darrin dedicated his life to serving others, and today his legacy continues through a Foundation committed to helping the people and communities of Arizona’s White Mountains.

While many know the Darrin Reed Foundation for its scholarships, our work reaches far beyond education. We provide immediate assistance to community members experiencing unexpected hardships, working directly with local law enforcement and fire agencies to help reach people when they need it most.

We offer educational scholarships to graduating White Mountains students and education awards for those pursuing careers as first responders. We also support families through our Holiday Give Back Program, provide emergency clothing for students through local school nurse stations, and honor the men and women who serve our communities.

The heart of our Foundation has always been simple: take care of our own, keep our support local, and continue Darrin’s legacy of service. That is why partnering for the Patriot Climb is such a natural fit. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Darrin Reed Foundation, helping us sustain these critical programs across the region.

Next year the 911 climb will be on a Saturday. You do not have to be a first responder to participate—you simply need a desire to remember.

Come, climb in honor of a firefighter who scaled the stairs of the World Trade Center. Climb in honour of a police officer, paramedic, or dispatcher who responded to the call. Climb for the families who never got to welcome their loved ones home. Climb so that a generation born after September 11, 2001, understands why we still say their names and tell their stories.



On September 11, the mountain will become more than a place to climb. It will become a place to honor, remember, and stand together.

Event Details (subject to change):

Event: Sunrise Park Resort Patriot Climb

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2027

Registration: 7:00 a.m. at the base of Sunrise

Climb: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free for first responders | $20 for all other participants

Extras: The first 100 registered participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Twenty-five years of remembrance. A lifetime of gratitude. We will never forget.

www.darrinreedfoundation.org