Honoring911.com

Last December, after years of lobbying and debate, Congress passed a health bill, which would later be known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Named after a New York City police officer who passed away from respiratory illness, the 9/11 health measure calls for full medical coverage to those who became sick from toxic fumes, dust and smoke during rescue efforts at the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

While the state has taken a first step in fulfilling their moral obligation to support the rescue workers who spent days, weeks and even months at ground zero, a large gap has yet to be filled. The Act excludes the increasing number of cancer victims who claim their sickness was caused by carcinogens released into the air in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. While coverage for cancer related illness is still up for debate, victims and their families struggle as they await relief for the unfortunate consequences of their brave efforts on that fateful day.

Accordingly, the Collins: team has chosen the initiative to support ground zero related cancer victims and their families as the center of our 9/11 commemorations. The Fire Fighters Cancer Foundation will receive all proceeds from The Permanent Mark, which is our token in remembering the challenging and internal lesson of that morning: we are as one.

To learn more about The Permanent Mark, please visit the honoring911.com.

To donate directly to the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation, please visit ffcancer.org.

Credits go to Matt Luckhurst (design), Brian Collins (design), Christian Mrockza (video), Kenji Aoki (photography), Ingrid Pangandoyon (website).