One night. One mission. One legendary impact. What an unbelievable record-breaking year for the 32nd year of Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses. This morning, BackStoppers was presented the largest donation in Guns ‘N Hoses history with a grand total of $800,000! 
Guns ‘N Hoses and the St. Louis community have once again exceeded all expectations. By coming together to make the 2018 Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses an enormous success, you have ensured that the families of fallen and catastrophically injured first responders will be well taken care of for years to come. On behalf of the BackStoppers Board of Directors and the families we serve, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.I am honored to stand before you during BackStoppers’ 60th anniversary year and witness the strong partnership we’ve grown with Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses since it began 32 years ago. I can think of no better way to commemorate BackStoppers’ 60 years of helping – eliminating the families’ debt, providing health care coverage, assisting with the costs of education, and more since 1959 – than to receive this unmatched support for the families we assist. This support would not be possible without David Stokes, Steve Holley, Jack Martorelli, the Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses committee, first responder participants, coaches, staff, the many volunteers, and generous sponsors. Each and every one of you makes a difference in the lives of the families we assist. Since its inception, Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses has been a driving force behind our mission. You have engaged the greater St. Louis region, brought awareness to our cause, and enabled us to provide immediate and ongoing support to the now 80 families with 65 children we assist. There are no words to express just how grateful we are for this support of our mission and of all police, fire, and EMS personnel in our region. I am honored to accept this record-breaking donation on behalf of the 3,000 area BackStoppers members, the Board of Directors, and the over 160 families we have assisted in our 60-year history. Together, BackStoppers and Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses dedicate a combined 90 plus years to assisting families of fallen and catastrophically injured first responders. Together, we will continue this mission for many years to come. Thank you!
-Chief Ron Battelle, BackStoppers Executive Director
Each year we are awestruck by the astronomical support and dedication to our mission of serving the families of fallen heroes. Thank you Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses family that work all year round for this Thanksgiving Eve Tradition. Thank you to the fighters that train in the early morning and late nights to put on a good fight. Thank you to the STL community for showing up and continuing to be a part of this historical event. We will see you on November 27, 2019!!