Guns N' Hoses event raising money for Backstoppers charity

By Ann Rubin

KSDK -- It was a packed house for the 23rd annual Guns N' Hoses event. Firefighters and police officers took to the ring in exhibition boxing matches for the Backstoppers charity, which helps the families of fallen first responders.

Whether you're rooting for the red corner or the blue doesn't matter. At the end of the night everyone is here for the same reason.

They come to honor the fallen, those who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the past year.  Each gets a portrait in the ring. Among them an image of St. Louis police Officer Julius Moore.

Moore died October 15 in a car accident on the way to a call. Hhis parents say they're grateful for the support.

"I thank God for everything that's going on and the help that they are giving us," said Julius' mother Pecola Moore.

Robert Moore, Julius' father, added, "It gives the families a basis on which they can stand and they can look toward the future."

And while the motivation is somber, the event is not.

It's a boxing match plain and simple: firefighters in one corner, police officers in the other. They're all fighting for the same cause.

"We're all brothers and sisters and we're all here for one cause and that's to raise money for Backstoppers and to make sure that there's a fund there for our children and our children's children," said tournament promoter Steve Holley.

Since 1987, the event has raised more than $2.85 million for Backstoppers and has helped more than a hundred families.

"For those folks working out there, this is their secondary life insurance policy," said Virgil Davis of the Eureka Fire Protection District. "They know that their families are going to be protected and we're going to keep doing this event."

They're still waiting on the final tally, but organizers hoped to raise about $300,000 from Wednesday night's event.