Thousands Pack TD Garden for BFit Challenge Fundraiser for First Responders, Military
Through a charity fundraiser, thousands of community members, first responders, and members of the military participated in a running, stepping, and walking challenge at TD Garden on Sunday, Feb. 2.
The ninth annual BFit Challenge, presented by the Boston Bruins and the Boston Bruins Foundation, and sponsored by National Grid, featured participants walking and running up and down stairs throughout the arena in a challenge course competition. The event raised funds to support charities serving military personnel and first responders, including the 100 Club of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, Operation Service, the Newton Firefighters Children’s Fund, and Team MR8.
As of 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, the event raised a record-breaking total of $1,184,528, said Hannah Wolfe, the Bruins’ communications coordinator. “With 2,671 participants, the turnout exceeded last year’s challenge by almost 1,000 people and included 292 different teams,” she noted in an email to the Boston Herald.
Since its beginnings more than nine years ago, the event has raised more than $4.7 million for its charities. In addition to military, police, fire, and EMS division participants, Bruins alumni Patrice Bergeron, Adam McQuaid, and Andrew Raycroft also joined in Sunday’s challenge activities.
“It’s a great opportunity, obviously, to recognize a lot of important people,” McQuaid told WCVB-TV. “I always say every year they’re the people that when there’s a situation people run away they’re running into.”
