On Nov. 23 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Southeast Missouri State University student and founder of Rockin’ 4 Relief Jennifer Rubin presented a check at Guns ‘N Hoses for $23,000.

The money was raised at two events and through sponsorships. The first event was held in Cape Girardeau on Oct. 8, which raised around $10,000, and the second event was held Nov. 12 in St. Louis and raised $13,000.

Guns 'N Hoses is an event held every Thanksgiving eve that combines amateur boxing and mixed martial arts with fights between area police officers and firefighters. All the money raised at the event is donated to Backstoppers in February.

From left to right Al Spener, Carolyn Curtis, Carly Howell and Jennifer Rubin sit ringside during bout nine before making their check presentation.Photo by Katelyn Mary Skaggs

Last year, Rubin donated around $20,000 at the event. Rubin said her goal this year was to beat last year.

“Our goal was just to always do better than the year before,” Rubin said. “This was our best year yet, so it was very exciting.”

This was the fourth year Rockin’ 4 Relief has been a trophy presenter and donated money raised at the event. Rubin said the event is a chance to reconnect with friends.

“It’s been such an amazing experiment because it turns into like a big family reunion almost,” Rubin said. “We just get to see people we don’t get to see very often, especially living in Cape Girardeau now, two hours away there’s a lot of police officers and firefighters that I know up here and don’t get to see that often. So it’s a great way to see everybody and catch up and it's such a worthy cause.”

Rubin presented the check after match nine between Anthony Morris in the red corner and Glennon Frigerio, who won the match, in the blue corner.