Barrel Racers Raise Funds for Cornell

by Katherine O. Rizzo with photos by Catie Sprankle (first published in the September 2022 Equiery)

On August 7, barrel racers came together at the Chasin’ Cans 4 Cornell event to help raise funds for fellow barrel racer Jami Cornell of Monrovia who was injured in a hit and run accident on July 12. Cornell was walking across the intersection of Black Ankle Road and Unionville Road with her boyfriend when she was struck by a car.

According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s office, Chelsea Kendall, the driver of the car, fled the scene before police arrived, but was arrested the next day and charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault as well as “failure to immediately stop vehicle at the scene of accident involving bodily injury.” EMS transported Cornell to Shock Trauma in Baltimore where she remained for several days in critical condition. According to a Frederick News Post article on August 8, Cornell had emergency brain surgery but still is having trouble speaking and moving the left side of her body.

The Chasin’ Cans 4 Cornell event was held at the Blue Ridge Riding Club in Boonsboro. The event was organized by the Maryland International Barrel Racing Association and all proceeds go towards Cornell’s medical expenses.