​When you donate to Heart Like Harlie, your donation helps purchase Fire/EMS Rescue boats, and helps increase boater safety and awareness.

Our family had spent many, many summers boating in the Florida Keys. On August 11, 2017, the day of our daughter’s death, we discovered there was a lack of Fire/Rescue boats in the 90 miles of Monroe County shores.

Our family experienced a tragic emergency with our daughter Harlie a few miles from land and discovered we were on our own! We called VHF, EPIRB, 911 several times begging for immediate help. We were told to drive ourselves to shore, Venture Out Docks.. But with one engine out, that made it difficult! FWC, Tow boats, Law Enforcement, and the US Coast Guard are all typically patrolling, but have limited medical training and are spread thin for such a large area, and we were in a dead zone between the more popular islands. Over 90% of the Florida Keys has no fire/medical boats!!! A man who tows boats heard the distress USCG calls, a resident that’s lived there for years came to help us! We finally got to shore 25 minutes later. If this man wasn’t there that day … We would of been stranded less then 3 miles from shore indefinitely! Monroe County Fire Rescue was first at Venture out WAITING at docks for us, Paramedics, Sheriff, and FWC officers were also there WAITING for us. Harlie's injuries were critical. Having to get to shore with no medical help was a traumatizing experience we endured with our daughter, Harlie… which unfortunately can NEVER be forgotten!

Our plan and wish is that NO other family should ever have to feel so helpless and go through the terror we did that day in the Florida Keys. Monroe County has over 26,000 registered vessels. That puts them 3rd in the state of Florida for most registered boats. There is very little if any help on the waters in the Florida Keys!!! Why ??? The three counties topping the list above Monroe are Dade, Broward, and Lee. All counties have maritime response assistance. Our goal is to get Medical/ Fire response boat for Monroe County ASAP in an effort to jumpstart a much needed marine program. This properly outfitted asset along with extra portable radios to distribute to FWC, Police and Fire for improved communications will cost $360,000 dollars. We hope to eliminate the dead zones one by one! Please help our family and Harlie make a difference… Sincerely Thank You!!!

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