Honoring Heroes: Terps Remember 9/11 Victims With 2,071-Step Stair Climb
The Maryland women’s lacrosse team is set to run the steps at SECU Stadium to honor the legacies of the fallen heroes on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
9/11/2026
It’s been 25 years since the tragic events of Sept. 11, and the impact of that day is still being felt nationwide.
This year, as the country remembers the fallen and the heroes of the day, Maryland women’s lacrosse will run the stairs at SECU Stadium to honor the memory of those that lost their lives defending others.
“It’s a big, heavy topic,” junior Kayla Gilmore said. “The more we can do to help those who saved so many lives, the better. We just want to help and do as much as we can for such an amazing cause.”
Gilmore and the team will climb 2,071 steps up and down the bleachers at SECU Stadium alongside the men's lacrosse team on Friday morning, exactly a quarter-century after the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives in 2001. When Gilmore helped lead the charge in pitching the idea to the team, she was touched to see how quickly the group bounded around the movement.
Among our team, we’ve all been touched or know somebody who was impacted by the tragedies of that day. Coming together for a great cause really brings everyone together, and brings us closer as a family.Kayla Gilmore
This year, Maryland women’s lacrosse has joined the College Athletics 9/11 Stair Climb Fundraiser, working with the Michael J. Cawley Memorial Fund to use its platform for something bigger than lacrosse.
Michael J. Cawley was a firefighter who lost his life responding to the attacks. Before the climb, the Terps have been raising money for his foundation. On the morning of Sept. 11, each step will serve as a reminder of the selfless sacrifice that Cawley and so many others made for the good of others.
More than 60 collegiate teams from across the country have been fundraising over the past several weeks, using their love for competition for a wonderful cause. The Terps have already raised over $1,200 as the foundation rapidly approaches its $200,000 goal.
“We’re eager to keep raising money and share Michael’s story, as well as anyone else who was there on 9/11 and either tragically passed away or saved so many lives,” Gilmore said. “It’s super cool, because we all get to compete. We’re all athletes and we love competing, so getting to compete against other college teams to raise as much money as we can is super cool.”
The team took to social media to spread awareness about the foundation and raise money for a great cause. Their posts caught the eyes of the nation, and the hearts of many, including former Terp Abby Bosco, who tragically lost her father in the attacks.
When I saw the girls posting about the fundraiser, it definitely made me a little emotional. To see them doing a fundraiser for something that I’m so closely impacted by, and knowing they’re going to run those stairs and think about how we remember everyone is really special.Abby Bosco
Along with the stair climb on Friday morning, Maryland is participating in the 2026 9/11 Heroes Run 5K on Sept. 13. Hosted by the Travis Manion Foundation, the 5K serves as another chance to remember the 343 FDNY firefighters and countless other first responders and civilians who died protecting others. The Terps will run alongside the Maryland men’s lacrosse team in Annapolis on Sunday, strengthening the bond between the programs and showing that being an athlete is about more than competition.
“It really brings people together, which is what sports is all about,” Gilmore said. “Sports gives people an outlet, and I think when everyone can come together for one goal and one cause, it makes our team a lot stronger. Hopefully, they’re two new traditions that we’ll do with Maryland women’s lacrosse.”
From Bosco’s time as a Terp to today, Maryland doesn’t miss opportunities to participate in great causes. Under head coach Cathy Reese, the program has hosted games raising awareness for Type 1 Diabetes Awareness, Parkinson’s Disease, relationship violence, mental health, and so much more.
“Playing for her on the field was so special, but knowing her off the field is even more special,” Bosco said. “She cares so deeply about every single person that comes through her program. She wants to see you succeed in life just as much as you succeed on the field, and I think that’s something that makes her so special.”
We encourage our student-athletes to use their voices and their platforms to advocate for the causes that are important to them. As we mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, we want to honor and remember the heroes who responded and those who lost their lives.Cathy Reese
The Maryland women’s lacrosse team understands the weight of the history it will carry as it runs the steps of SECU Stadium on Friday morning.
It’ll be a solemn lesson of those that were lost, and a reminder that their stories, their memories and their impact will never be forgotten.
“Even as time goes on, you never want people to forget,” Bosco said. “Doing things like fundraisers and stair climbs are some of the many ways we can help people remember. Things like this help you take a step back and look at the bigger picture and look at the things that are super important in life.”
