Every year on the night before Thanksgiving, St. Louis police officers and firefighters step into the boxing ring against each other, and thousands of fans pack the arena to cheer them on. This is the 38th year of Guns 'N Hoses, and it has become a true local tradition.
The bouts are real, the rivalries are friendly and the crowd is loud. Families, coworkers and neighbors come out to support their department and enjoy a night built around people who serve the community every day.
The reason behind it is serious. Proceeds go to The BackStoppers, which supports the families of police officers and firefighters in the region who were killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The organization currently helps around 100 families and 75 children.
Buying a ticket is a simple way to stand with those families during the holidays and show local first responders that the community has their back.
