Woman runs to remember FDNY father killed on 9/11 and to benefit 'Tuesday's Children'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Every runner has a story. For some, their reasons are even reflected in the course, the meaningful landmarks they will pass on the 13.1 mile race.

Her first New York Road Runner Race was the NYC Half last year, and now Katelyn Mascali from Staten Island is back for her second half, this time raising money for "Tuesday's Children".

Katelyn is running to show she will never forget.

"To me, my dad was invincible. It was never a thought that something would happen to him," Katelyn said.

Joe Mascali was one of 11 FDNY from Rescue 5 that were lost when the Twin Towers fell. There's no question Katelyn and the firehouse remember him.

Katelyn was just 8 years old when her dad was taken away.

"It was Tuesday and I had school, he brought me to firehouse. He knew I loved having breakfast here with guys, made me French toast, and I never realized that would be the last time I saw him," Mascali said.

What she will never forget is the way "Tuesday's Children" has remembered her.

Kaitlyn tells Eyewitness News she wants them to know the comfort they bring.

"What they did for me for so many years and also 14.5 years ago, what they are still doing," Katelyn said.

Katelyn committed to raise a dollar for each 9/11 soul lost. She surpassed her goal and is convinced she's not doing it alone.

"He's really what motivates me to keep going during those tough runs, when it's hard and I want to quit, and I think about what he did that day. He went and he ran and he didn't give up and neither will I," Katelyn said.

Her brother Chris, now an FDNY member in Brooklyn, says he's proud she's going the distance for "Tuesday's Children".

"Never forget, never forget it's easy to say, but things like this every day, this is what got us through and their hard work going and the memory. We don't forget!" Chris said.

And as One World Trade comes into site just past mile 10, "For me running past the 9/11 Memorial, it's an emotional, but also pushes me. And to think about my dad and what he did that day and that will motivate me to finish," Katelyn said.