Skeet competition raises thousands for local teen fighting cystic fibrosis

HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — Haywood Young Guns Skeet Range hosted its first skeet shooting competition for one local girl who needs a life saving transplant.

Shells were flying Saturday afternoon, shooters young and old competing for one main goal, to help one of their own.

Anna Smith has been fighting cystic fibrosis her whole life, and is currently waiting on results that could place her on a transplant list.

“It’s real emotional, but I’ve done a lot of thinking and talking with family, and I feel like I’m gonna be okay,” Anna said.

Dozens of people came to to support Anna Saturday for her double lung transplant and to shoot out cystic fibrosis.

“It’s really reassuring that people care, and that I have so many people that are behind me who love and support me,” she said.

Two divisions of shooters battled it out, but in the end, are all a part of Anna’s Army.

“It’s great and I mean they do it around here a lot; it’s not just, you know, for this. People pull together pretty good to help people out,” Skeet Head Coach Scott Tinley said.

“It really makes me stop and think that there’s no guarantee for tomorrow, and always cherish the moment you have with the people you love,” Anna said.

Anna said she hopes to know by the beginning of next week if she will be paced on the transplant list.

Organizers said they raised around $4,600 for Anna Saturday at the shooting competition.

Donations will be accepted on site or can be issued online at Anna’s page: www.gofundme.com/sbdnhn2w