By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
All 400 tickets to the seventh annual dinner dance to benefit the Warren County BackStoppers were sold out weeks before the Feb. 18 event.In six previous years, the local organization has raised more than $310,000 to benefit the families of first responders killed or critically injured serving the public.Jeff Backhaus, Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department chief, BackStoppers advisory director and chairman of the county chapter, reported that more than $60,000 will be added to the previous total due to the generosity of the attendees and sponsors of the 2017 event.“I have never seen an area that supports BackStoppers like this one,” said Chief Jim Silvernail, representing the organization.“The support that we get is just outstanding,” said Backhaus. “I don’t even know how to describe it. I feel that people truly believe in the cause or they wouldn’t show up and spend the kind of money they do to support it.”
BackStoppers was founded in 1959 and has served more than 160 families with emergency and ongoing assistance. When a first responder is killed or critically injured on the job, representatives from BackStoppers contact the family within hours of the incident to offer their support.The organization helps the family by assuming mortgage or automobile payments, health and dental insurance, education assistance, college tuition and other needed assistance.“Your money will be well managed and well spent,” said retired St. Louis County Chief Ron Battelle, BackStoppers executive director.Board members, elected annually, administer money given to the group from a wide array of local fundraisers, including car washes, golf tournaments, mouse races, dog washing and lemonade stands.“It is the most unbelievable event I’ve been to in all my life,” said Kevin Scott, Ballwin Police chief, as he addressed the Warren County attendees.Scott said the BackStoppers organization is now helping one of his own officers, Mike Flamion, who was shot during a traffic stop on July 8, 2016. Flamion is paralyzed from his neck down.“I was responsible for him on the day he got shot,” said Scott. “He still can’t breathe on his own, but all he wants to do is to come back and be a Ballwin officer. What you are supporting here tonight is unbelievable.”Three large portraits of area first responders helped the community remember their own fallen from Warren County — Paul J. Fricke from the Hawk Point Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Department; Lonnie Cole from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department; and Vernon Seals from the Truesdale Police Department.Doors opened at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Ignatius Community Center in Concord Hill. A silent auction took place before a buffet-style dinner, sponsored by Ameren Missouri. An oral auction and dance followed a presentation honoring fallen first responders.Frank Stuermann, BackStoppers board member, said area businesses are generous each year when sponsorships and auction items are gathered for the event. He believes that more than $20,000 was collected just for the ads in the program.“It’s very touching when you read what the money goes to,” said Stuermann. “How do they support 80 widows and kids? I feel like I’m really doing some good by helping.”Warren County BackStoppers currently supports 81 families with 66 dependent children. More than $1.2 million was spent assisting families in 2015.To learn more about Warren County BackStoppers, visit BackStoppers.org.Paul J. Fricke, center photo, served with the Warren County Sheriff's Department and the Hawk Point Police Department. He was killed in an automobile accident on Aug. 27, 2010. Officers who served with him posed with his photo during the BackStoppers dinner dance held Saturday, Feb. 18. Pictured, back row, from left, are Jeff Doerr, Scott Taylor, Kevin Talir and Eric Schleuter. Front row: Aaron Sutton and Ray House. Record photo/ Cindy Gladden.
