A benefit for Christine Bartels will be held today at the East Grand Forks Eagles Club from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will include a spaghetti feed, a live auction and a silent auction.
Bartels was injured in an April 28 horse riding accident. She was thrown from her horse and into the wall of the indoor riding arena. Her neck was fractured at the fifth and sixth vertebrae.
Alone at the time of the accident, Bartels was not discovered for another hour by the owners of the arena. She was rushed to Altru Hospital and into emergency surgery.
Currently, Bartels has no feeling in her legs and torso and has limited upper body movement.
She and her husband Steve Bartels live in Fisher, Minn., but are staying at Craig Hospital in Denver where Christine is participating in a rehabilitation program.
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Craig Hospital specializes in the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.
How to help: If you are unable to make it to the benefit, donations may be made online at Bartels's Caring Bridge site . Donations can also be sent in Bartels's name to any Grand Forks Gate City Bank location.
