Martin girl raises money for horse rescue

Six-year-old Cadi Barner asked for donations for Redemption Road Rescue. She also gave them the proceeds from her lemonade stand.

Just before the cooler temperatures settling in, Cadi Barner of Martin, along with her family, hosted a recent yard sale. But this wasn’t just any typical yard sale, Cadi wanted this event to be held in effort to raise donations for Redemption Road Rescue in Jackson, a nonprofit equine rescue that helps with assisting abandoned and neglected horses, along with other farm animals.

This was not the first time that Cadi had collected donations for the Jackson-based group. Back in 2017, in lieu of birthday gifts for her sixth birthday, Cadi, when asked, requested money so she could purchase items to donate to the nonprofit.  It was also in that year, Cadi set up a lemonade and cookie stand at her aunt and uncles house on Church Street in Martin in order to collect even further donations. Through her efforts that year, she gathered over $400, which purchased plenty of items for the horses down at the rescue. During her trip to present the gifts that year, Cadi also met “Norah” who was residing at Redemption Road waiting for just the right person to give her a good home. While Cadi left the donations, Norah left her residence at Redemption Road to come back to Cadi’s horse barn!

For her 11th birthday this past September, the same idea was on the agenda. With proceeds from her family’s yard sale, along with her same request of monetary gifts, and other donated offerings; Cadi was able to present a check to Redemption Road Rescue last month totaling over $1,000! During the presentation, Patti Simpson, volunteer administrator at Redemption Road Rescue said, “The story of Cadi and Norah is the best example of why we do what we do.” This past year, with the guidance of Cadi’s little sister, Cali, Norah has been in action in “halter competition” at the Gleason Saddle Club, placing amongst the standings.

Cadi is currently taking equestrian lessons with Assistant Equestrian Coach Kaitlin Marshall at UTM where she aspires, one day, to ride as she continues in her equine endeavors. Cadi wishes to certainly thank everyone who gave and donated to make this happen!