The morning of 9/11, Madison Firefighter Rob Verhelst had just returned from fighting a fire in Madison when he heard and saw the 9/11 attacks unfold on radio and then television. He felt he had to go help with the search and recovery efforts, and drove to New York City, where he joined the search efforts at Ground Zero on Sept. 12.
Verhelst has held onto a tattered piece of a baby blanket he found in the Ground Zero rubble to remind him of the fragility of life, and the importance of “living forward, instead of worrying about all of the little things you can’t control.”
In this 1-on-1 interview, the man known as “Fireman Rob” for running the marathon portion of Ironman competitions in full firefighting gear, opens up about the PTSD, depression and anxiety he has endured after working the 9/11 site. He also shares how removing the stigma from mental health issues, and helping others through his Fireman Rob Foundation has helped him continue to survive by finding a purpose in life.