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Bikers Ride For Charity In Honor Of 9/11 Hero

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Thousands came out to raise money in honor of a Staten Island firefighter who lost his life on Sept. 11.

The Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund held its annual Bikers For Bini charity event Sunday at the Staten Island Mall.

As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported, riders like Lynn were revved up to take part in the event.

Bikers Ride For Charity In Honor Of 9/11 Hero

"My brother was a Jersey City fireman so...I understand it all," she said.

Bini got his crew together on 9/11 and headed over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge towards the burning buildings.

"There's a famous picture of them turning onto West Street, and that's the last picture we got of any of them," a fellow firefighter said.

FDNY fire truck at Bikers For Bini charity event
FDNY fire truck at Bikers For Bini charity event, August 25, 2013. (credit: Monica Miller/WCBS 880)

Massimo DiDonna said his father-in-law was a man who valued service.

"We wanted to start a not-for-profit to continue my father-in-law's legacy and his lifelong belief in helping others," he told Miller.

The organization is trying to raise $200,000 to help out in times of need, like after superstorm Sandy. The Bini Fund has donated more than $100,000 to the Sandy recovery effort, Miller reported.

"If you needed help and you needed supplies and we had them, we got them to you," DiDonna said.

He added his father-in-law was a humble man.

"He would say 'why is everyone walking around with my name on their back? I did the right thing because I had to do it, not because I wanted the accolades,'" DiDonna told Miller.

Former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams was among those who took part in the event.

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