Local Cancer Survivor gives back

Grant (left) with Steven Petry (right) of GTZ Powder Coating.

This Friday and Saturday, the Sky High for Kids will hold a banquet and shooting clay tournament to raise funds for Cancer research. One item up for auction at the banquet is a 300 Blackout rifle built and donated by local highschooler and two-time cancer survivor, senior Grant Wagoner. 

“I figured I could use my skills for good and try to raise some money for those kids in the hospital. I was really surprised when they came to me asking to build a gun for them, but I really enjoyed it and liked being able to give back.” 

This rifle, custom built by Wagoner, was originally gifted to him as a series of donated parts by veterans and gun enthusiasts to occupy Grant’s time in the hospital during his second time being treated for brain cancer, at only 7 years old. 

“I was stuck doing nothing in the hospital and I wanted to buy a gun to put together. My dad made a post on Facebook and everyone started sending me all these parts. That’s how I really got into building AR’s like this”

Grant isn’t the only one to contribute to this donation. San Antonio based GTZ Powder Coating, operated by veteran Steven Petry, gave the blackout a slick orange and blue paint job and laser engraving.

“We found GTZ on Facebook and reached out to see if they’d be interested in helping us, and they decided to do the engraving and coating for free. It turned out even better than I could have imagined.”

The Sky High Benefit Banquet and Shooting Clay Tournament will be held November 11th through the 12th at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and The National Shooting Complex, respectively.