The Barn set to host fundraiser for family struck by tragedy

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- One area establishment set out to help a local family during a time of tragedy.

‘Cruise in for the Samson Family,’ which will be held at The Barn on Saturday, July 22nd, is a benefit for the family that was affected by a tragic accident.

On June 23rd, brothers Michael (Scott) and Kendall Samson were involved in a vehicle accident while driving on State Route 204 in Hopewell Township. Authorities said they lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a dog in the roadway, leading them to crash into a ditch where the vehicle overturned.

30-year-old Kendall Samson, of Crooksville, was pronounced dead at the scene and his brother, 34-year-old Scott Samson, of McConnelsville, sustained serious injuries and has continued to fight for his life.

“My younger brother passed away on the scene,” said Santanna Blankenship, sister of the Samson brothers. “Scott has been at Grant Medical Center on basically life support since then. He is paralyzed from the sternum down with a little bit of movement in his left arm but not the hand.”

Scott remains in the hospital with assisted breathing through a ventilator. Him and his wife, Ashley, have three children and the proceeds raised will benefit the family for the many medical expenses they will face.

“He’s not going to be mobile, so that’s going to have a lot to do with benefitting for a wheelchair and his hospital bills and his cost and expenses that acquire through a family,” said Jessica Swiney, cousin to the Samson brothers.

The fundraiser will feature a car and bike show with an entry fee of $10. Registration for the show will begin at 2 p.m., and judging will begin at 4 p.m. with winners announced at 7 p.m.

Brian Keys will perform from 3:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and there will also be a Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle.

The Barn will also be donating a portion of the days’ sales to the Samson family.

All involved hope there will be a good turn out for the event.

“For the community to come together and help us out, mainly Scott and Ashley, it would mean the world to them,” said Blankenship.

Kendall is survived by his two children and wife, who is pregnant with one more on the way.

In addition to this tragedy, the family also lost their 53-year-old mother, Debbie Rutter, to lung cancer earlier this year.

For those who can’t make it to the event but want to contribute, the family has a GoFundMe page set up: https://www.gofundme.com/41jce3k.