Firefighters take on police officers
BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN - News-Democrat
A public rally for the 23rd annual Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses boxing show will be Thursday evening in St. Louis.
The event raises money to benefit The BackStoppers. The organization assists families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty.
Male and female boxers from police and fire departments in Illinois and Missouri will be featured during the 17-bout event.
The event is scheduled for Nov. 25 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Tickets to the event are available online at www.stlgunsandhoses.com. Tickets are $30, $25, $20 and $10 plus a $2.50 facility fee. Tickets are also available throught Ticketmaster.com, at the Scottrade Center box office or by calling 622-1507. They will also be available at the door.
The public rally will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon at 800 Cerre St. near Busch Stadium. The rally is intended to raise enthusiasm about the upcoming boxing fundraiser and will feature ring girls, ticket giveaways and attendance prizes.
Participants in the rally will include all boxers who trained for the show, whether or not they were able to be matched on the final card.
"Boxers from police and fire departments throughout the metropolitan area put themselves through rigorous training and we want to show them that we appreciate their support," said Jerry Clinton, executive director of the St. Louis Guns 'N Hoses Boxing Association.
The final card is expected to feature 17 bouts between teams of police officers and firefighters from St. Louis city and the 11 Missouri counties and five Illinois counties covered by The BackStoppers.
First held in 1987, Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses has raised more than $2.6 million for The Backstoppers, which covers first responders in St. Louis city, and the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Lincoln, Warren, Washington, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Pike and Perry. Illinois counties covered are Madison, Monroe, St. Clair, Bond and Clinton. Also covered are members of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol and District 11 of the Illinois State Police.
After a loss of life, The BackStoppers meets the family's emergency expenses and later arranges to pay bills, mortgages, debts, college costs and other expenses.
The BackStoppers is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
