VIDEO: MO Sergeant Shot in Face Opens Charity Event Days Later

A wounded St. Louis Police sergeant decided to make a public appearance to open the 30th Annual Guns n' Hoses charity boxing event the night before Thanksgiving. He appeared on stage and waved to loud cheers. Sgt. Tom Lake, who had been shot in the face days earlier, also gestured to his heart in appreciation of the response from the crowd, reports KTVI .

"Oh man it gave me goose bumps," said Illinois Department of Corrections employee Jonathon Brown. Brown was one of the boxers participating in the annual event. "They make sacrifices every day so for me to come out and put on a show, it's the least I can do," he said

The widow of St. Louis County Police Officer Blake Snyder and her brother helped ring the 10 count which signaled the start of the matches.

Wednesday marked the 30th anniversary of the annual event.  The matches have helped raise $5.5 million dollars for Backstoppers, an agency that helps the families of fallen first responders.

The 2016 Guns 'n Hoses event remembered 6 first responders who either lost their lives or suffered catastrophic injuries in the line of duty.