Runners from all over the country and right here in western Connecticut are running to raise money for police, military and fire personnel.

It's called the Great American Relay and it runs from Boston to California.

"These guys deserve all the credit in the world for all they do. They put their lives on the line for all of us so we can do stuff like this all day long," said race director Vince Varallo.

Alicia Gerbert, a special ed teacher at Darien High School, and her husband are participating in the race.

"I'm running for my grandfather who was a fireman in Greenwich for over 50 years and so it means a lot to me to be a participant in this," Gerbert said.

The runners started the 28th leg Monday afternoon from the Darien Fire House.

The leg ran along Route 1 for 10 miles and finished at one of the Greenwich fire departments.

Nine-hundred runners across the country are chasing a goal for heroes who battled 9/11-related illnesses and COVID-19.

The relay started Sept. 11 and will finish Oct. 19.

For more information on the Great American Relay, follow this link.