COMMACK, NY — A Commack Pilates studio recognized local first responders with complimentary fitness classes while raising funds for a nonprofit founded by a Commack native who has spent more than two decades advocating for those suffering from illnesses and injuries related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
STRONG Pilates Commack, located at 6506 Jericho Turnpike, offered free 45-minute classes on Oct. 28 in recognition of National First Responders Day. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, nurses and other emergency personnel were invited to participate.
"First responders do so much for our community, often putting others' needs before their own," STRONG Pilates Commack co-owner Beverly Bono told Patch. "We wanted to give them an opportunity to focus on themselves for a change. We believe movement is important for both physical and mental well-being, and this was our way of saying thank you while encouraging first responders to take some time for their own health."
The studio also partnered with the FealGood Foundation, established in 2005 by John Feal, a former Ground Zero recovery worker who grew up in Commack and later became a prominent advocate for 9/11 responders and their families.
For every first responder who attended a complimentary class, the studio pledged to donate $39, representing the value of the class, to the foundation. A final participation count and total donation amount were not provided.
"While our event was open to all first responders, we felt partnering with the foundation was a great opportunity to extend our impact beyond the studio and support an organization doing such important work," Bono said.
Marzena Feal, a longtime volunteer with the foundation who participates in Pilates, helped facilitate the partnership
"We love to educate the local community," she told Patch.
From Ground Zero To Advocacy
John Feal's commitment to helping first responders grew out of his own experience working at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks.
During recovery and cleanup operations in September 2001, Feal suffered a devastating injury when approximately 8,000 pounds of steel crushed his foot. He told Patch that he spent 11 weeks hospitalized with gangrene. The injury resulted in the amputation of several toes.
The experience exposed him to the financial and medical hardships facing other recovery workers, many of whom struggled to obtain treatment and compensation for injuries and illnesses connected to their service.
In 2005, Feal established the FealGood Foundation to assist emergency personnel and advocate for their rights.
Since then, the organization has helped responders and their families navigate medical challenges while lobbying lawmakers for legislation expanding health care access and compensation.
For Feal, the advocacy is personal, but he said his experiences at Ground Zero are not what define him.
"My injury doesn't define me," John said. "My five days at Ground Zero don't define me. The way my mother raised me in the final words on her deathbed. That defines who I am and what I do and how I do it."
Among the major legislative efforts supported by Feal and other advocates was the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which established the World Trade Center Health Program.
The federal program, which began operating in July 2011, provides medical monitoring and treatment for eligible responders and survivors with certified 9/11-related health conditions, including certain cancers, respiratory illnesses and mental health conditions.
Congress reauthorized the program through 2090 in 2015, and additional legislation enacted in February 2026 revised its annual funding formula to account for enrollment trends.
"Every day we're putting people in the World Trade Center program," John said. "Every day we're helping people file their VCF claims to get compensated for their illnesses."
The work, he said, is a lifelong commitment.
"How long I do this — I don't know —but this is bigger than me," he said
Remembering Those Lost In Nesconset
A part of Feal's work is the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park in Nesconset, a memorial dedicated to people who died from illnesses related to their service following the attacks.
The park, located near the intersection of Smithtown Boulevard and Gibbs Pond Road, features memorial walls inscribed with the names of deceased responders.
Feal said the growing number of names serves as a reminder of the human consequences of the illnesses and the importance of continued advocacy.
"That's a reminder that when my advocacy fails, they go on our wall," he said.
Feal told Patch that approximately 350 names are added to the memorial annually.
Sharing His Story With A New Generation
Feal has also sought to preserve the experiences of responders and the history of their advocacy through a newly published book.
"I Will Follow You Anywhere: The True Story of the 9/11 Responders Who Took On Congress," written by Feal with Charles Daly and featuring a foreword by Jon Stewart, was released in September.
Rather than focusing exclusively on his personal experiences, Feal said he wanted to recognize the many responders and advocates who contributed to the fight for federal legislation.
"I didn't want it to be a memoir," Feal said.
The book shares the experiences of approximately a dozen individuals, including their time at Ground Zero, the illnesses they subsequently developed and their efforts to persuade lawmakers to act.
Feal said he wanted people to understand that the legislative victories were achieved through the collective efforts of responders, advocates and their supporters.
"It took a village," he said.
Feal described writing the book as "more like therapy and cleansing," saying he wanted to tell his story in his own words after years of seeing other authors recount portions of his experiences.
The book is available through major retailers, including here on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
A Message To Long Islanders
As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Feal hopes people will remember that supporting first responders should extend beyond commemorative ceremonies and designated holidays.
"Don't wait to the day of remembrance. Don't wait for a sexy number like 25," Feal said. "Everybody knows somebody. Everybody knows somebody who's affected by 9/11 or lost somebody from 9/11. Hug somebody, buy somebody a cup of coffee, hold their door open, value human life, make a difference in someone's life. The most valuable commodity that we have is time."
More information about the FealGood Foundation is available at fealgoodfoundation.com.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Commack Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.