On the evening of November 25th, Cory Hogan won his first ever boxing match by a unanimous decision. Cory, the executive shop steward for Cottleville Firefighters, decided to particpate in the annual event that benefits the families of firefighters, paramedics and police officers that perish in the line of duty. Guns N Hoses, Inc. is a non-profit organization that organizes amateur boxing matches between firefighters and police officers. Cory was the first Cottleville Firefighter to ever box in Guns N Hoses. He started training in May for event. To prepare himself for the match, Cory cleaned up his diet, ran 5 miles daily and spent long hours in the boxing gym. When asked about his dedicated preparation, Cory remarked,"Out of respect for those heros who have died in the line of duty, I want to give it my all."

Firefighters won 11 of the 17 bouts that evening.

It is the mission of Guns N Hoses, Inc., a St. Louis based nonprofit organization, is to assist the families of public servants who die in the line of duty. Within hours of a death, the fallen hero’s family

 receives a $5000 check to take care of some initial costs. Then, Backstoppers assumes the family’s mortgage, taxes and insurance and provides the family’s health and dental insurance. As if that is not enough, Backstoppers also provides money to help with elementary and secondary education costs, helps survivors pay for college, gives savings bonds to surviving children and provides financial counseling if needed.

Since 1959 Backstoppers has assisted the families of 119 fallen heroes. This includes three police officers and one firefighter that have perished in 2009. Glennon Fernau of Florissant Police Dept., Gregory Jonas of Centerville Police Dept., David Grass of St. Genevieve Fire Dept., and Julius Moore of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have all given their lives in the line of duty this year.
Backstoppers is funded, in part, by various fundraising events. The centerpiece event is the annual Budweiser Guns N Hoses boxing event. Held on the night before Thanksgiving every year, this event pits firefighters against police officers in 3 round boxing matches. Guns N Hoses is held at the Scottrade Center, home to the St. Louis Blues, and fills up every year with massive crowds. Seventeen matches are held and bragging rights go to either the cops or firefighters, whoever wins the majority of the matches.