A video of a highly unorthodox, and probably dangerous method of towing a boat has gone viral from Pasco County.
- Man uses viral video as fundraiser for friend who needs new heart
- Video of boat being towed in unusual way went viral
- Kenneth Keegan now using video to raise money for friend
Kenneth Keegan first posted the video to his Facebook page saying, “When you have to go fishing in Hudson, and you don’t have a trailer.”
Keegan posted the video on Sunday, April 23, and it quickly hit the viral level.
"At first I heard the scraping and I looked over and this guy was towing this boat," Keegan said. "But not a way many people have ever seen. A fishing boat being towed on what appears to be a small lift for a motorized scooter."
He added, "We see crazy stuff here in Pasco County all the time but I've never seen anything quite like that."
When the video started to get a huge amount of attention, Keegan decided to turn the post into a fundraiser for his friend, Thomas Rutlege, who is in need of a heart transplant.
The post now reads, “When fishing is LIFE! And your friend needs a new Heart!!”
"When I found out that he needed a new heart I was the first to donate, and I've been just trying to get it going," he said.
And what better way then when a crazy video catches strangers' attention.
"We're just small town people and we've got our story going out to UK and England, overseas, that's awesome, said Thomas' wife, Stacie Rutledge.
Thomas Rutledge has been suffering with congenital heart failure since 2012. His friends are holding fundraisers and started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a transplant. This may be an unusual way but Rutledge couldn’t be more grateful.
“Even if people only take a minute and think about me or give me a prayer, that's something that's appreciated," said Thomas Rutledge.
The video had been viewed more than 190,000 times by Thursday morning.
The next fundraisers for Thomas Rutledge are:
- May 7th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Auto Zone, 2525 Us 19 Holiday, Fl 34691
- May 27th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Auto Zone, 7124 Us 52 Hudson, Fl 34667
- June 3rd, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Napa Auto Parts, 14717 Us 19 Hudson, Fl 34667