MIAMI – Harry Horgan sailed into South Florida in the 90s after a car crash left him paralyzed. He found a sense of purpose and direction in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood.
Through Shake-a-Leg Miami he has worked to offer rehab and educational programs that have changed the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families for more than two decades.
Hurricane Irma hurt the operation Sunday when it destroyed their dock at the Dinner Key Marina in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood. There was so much damage Horgan got emotional.
"Coming down and seeing the carnage of everything piled up was just painful and sad," Horgan said.
The loss of the dock puts Horgan’s work on hold. The dock's design allowed for universally-accessible sailboats and boats. Replacing it will take time and money.
"We've worked with him before and he does fantastic things here,” Dan Martin, a sea tow from Key Biscayne, said. “We love being a part of that and seeing the smiles on all the kids faces."
Horgan is not giving up, but he needs the public's help to get the programs back in action. Daniel Kaplan, Matthew Kertesz, Kevin Rodriguez and Sofi Torrents set up a Go Fund Me account for anyone who wants to help.
The group said all of the donations will go towards navigating SALM out of rough waters and back to smooth sailing.
"Unfortunately, mother nature threw us a hard hit this time, but we've got to get back on-board and we're asking people to get involved with us," Horgan said.
Local 10 News' Andrea Torres contributed to this report.
