An online fund has been set up for the girl killed in a boating accident Sunday afternoon on the Chesapeake Bay.
Julianne Rosela, 7, was killed when a boat participating in the 25th annual Thunder on the Narrows race at Kent Narrows left its intended course and struck nearby boats holding onlookers. Seven people were injured. Paul Schlotterbeck, fire official with Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed the name of the deceased child on Monday.
More than $7,000 had been raised as of Monday afternoon via GoFundMe.com. The page set up for donations declared an initial goal of $30,000.
According to the fundraiser page, a racing boat lost control and collided with Julianne's spectator vessel. Her mother, Carrie Rosela, and sisters, Meghan and Allie, are orchestrating this fundraising mission to raise money in memory of Julianne.
A portion of the memorial fundraiser reads: "She was a beautiful girl who crackled with energy and warmth and love, whose loss is all the more painful for how strongly and loudly and enthusiastically she lived."
mcollins@baltsun.com