ST. LOUIS, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th annual Guns And Hoses boxing event features police officers taking on firefighters as a fund-raiser for Backstoppers group that assists families of Police Officers and Firefighters who die in the line of duty.

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"More than 18,000 spectators, including local police and local fire station firefighters are expected to attend this special night at the Scotttrade Center," notes Paul Crosetti, Farmers Missouri State Executive Director. "Farmers is proud to be a sponsor of the event, and our Missouri Farmers agents, district managers and employees will donate $6,500 to Backstoppers. In addition, we will have a Farmers Customer Care Vehicle (CCV) parked at the front door of the Center and will be conducting a raffle to help raise funds for Backstoppers."

Guns And Hoses features three-round matches between teams of Missouri and Illinois police officers and firefighters. Boxers are paired by age, weight and ability. Last year Police officers won 11 of 17 bouts during the event which raised more than $340,000 for the Backstoppers, bringing the total since 1987 to more than $2.6 million.

With more than 2,000-members, The Backstoppers assist the families of Police Officers and Firefighters who die in the line of duty. The Backstoppers cover St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Francois, Perry, Pike, Ste. Genevieve, Warren and Washington. The group also covers the Illinois counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair. In addition, Backstoppers cover 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.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Contact:        Jerry Davies
                213-400-4459
                Jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com

SOURCE Farmers Group, Inc.