WORCESTER, Mass. - This Sunday marks the 8th annual BFit Challenge. First responders, military members and anyone in the community are all invited to walk, run or step around TD Garden in Boston to benefit first responder and military charities.

To boost fundraising efforts, the Worcester Firefighters and Worcester Police Ladies teams hosted a "Boots & Badges Heroes Fundraiser" at Greater Good brewery Thursday night. All the money raised by both departments is going to the 100 Club of Massachusetts, which supports the families of fallen firefighters and police officers in the state.

This is the first year Worcester police and firefighters are teaming up. Firefighter Andrew Staruk has organized his department's effort for the past five years and said he's earned the BFit Challenge's "top fundraiser" title in either the individual or team category every year he's participated.

"I'm hoping to be a top fundraiser again," Staruk said. "Last year I was able to pull in $20,000 and I'm hoping to do more this year. I keep doing it mostly because of what it helps out. So, the big organization that helps out from the BFit Challenge is called the 100 Club Massachusetts, which helps out all the police and fire who die in line of duty. They adopt that person's family the rest of their lives.

"They're still helping out the Worcester Six families. They're still there helping out the Roys, the Menards, the Familias, the Davies. They're helping everyone that we've lost, all their families. So, we want to help and support them."

"Unbelievable experience, you know, it's great bonding, we had a great time," Worcester police officer Mary Moroski said about doing the BFit Challenge last year. "The energy in the Garden was unmatched. All of us, we just were one that was a big family of first responders. It was unbelievable. A great cause, all for the cause."

Following the challenge on Sunday, teams have until March 4 to fundraise. The next event for the Worcester teams will be on Feb. 9 at Wormtown Brewery.

In total, the 8th annual BFit Challenge hopes to raise more than $600,000 to benefit first responder and military charities. Throughout the past seven years, the challenge has successfully raised $2.9 million, according to the Bruins Foundation.