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A fundraiser is being held this weekend in Cape Coral to assist a local woman who survived a harrowing boating accident.

This Sunday at Venture Out Bait and Tackle in Cape Harbour, a barbecue fundraiser will be held for Nichole Hall featuring entertainment and a silent auction. The fundraiser starts at 1 p.m. and runs until 7.

The fundraiser is being put on by Amanda Hooker and Amanda Bolebruch, who are close friends of Hall and her family.

“It is heartwarming to see the community pull together for Nichole during this difficult time,” Hooker said. “The continued support for Nichole is a true testament to how she touches the lives of those around her. Her strength and positivity is contagious, and it’s important to show Nichole that she has an army behind her. It truly does take a village, and together, we will continue to ‘Fight like Nichole.'”

Hall, 29, was involved in the incident on April 20 while traveling home after performing charity work to assist a friend, kayaking from boat to boat collecting money for the good cause.

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On the way home, she and a few friends were on a boat of their own, traveling at a low rate of speed in shallow water. There, the boat hit either a wave or an object in the water, causing Hall and two others to be thrown from the boat. Unfortunately, Hall was hit by the propeller, and was quickly helped by others on the boat to get her treatment.

“The boys on the boat saved her life through their quick actions,” said Nichole’s father, Scott Hall.

After a tumultuous 24 hours following the incident, including the amputation of her left leg, Hall woke up the next day and was able to communicate via notebook. After a few surgeries, she was eventually able to stand on her own next to her hospital bed.

“She continues to have a great attitude, and amazes the nurses daily,” Scott said.

While Nichole continues to fight, her family says the type of amputation that was required, a hemipelvectomy, is a rare and uncommon amputation of the entire leg, as well as a portion of the pelvis. Not many have even survived this type of amputation. Hall’s family said she will require custom prosthetics that are essentially non-existent.

Nichole, a Pine Island/Matlacha resident for some time now, and sales and marketing Director at Atrium at Liberty Park in Cape Coral, is described as a “saint” by her family.

“She is always helping anyone, anywhere,” Scott said. “She has touched so many hearts over the years. She definitely doesn’t deserve this tragedy, but she is also tough as nails, and we believe that God has big plans for her and needed her here.”

What demonstrates her positive attitude and willingness to take on anything, Scott said when the doctors asked her if she was ready for the amputation surgery, she held up the classic “rock and roll” symbol with her index and pinky fingers up.

Scott also shared his thankfulness to community members and friends of Nichole that have reached out and stepped up.

“The prayers, love, and support from friends and everyone in the community has been overwhelming for us, and words can’t describe how much that means to us,” he said.

It will be a long road to recovery, and any money collected will go 100% towards Nichole’s medical bills and rehabilitation costs.

This will be one of a few different fundraising efforts for Nichole throughout Lee County. For those who are not able to be there in person, a QR code can be scanned that is linked to a Venmo account set up for Nichole.

Venture Out Bait and Tackle is at 5828 Cape Harbour Drive #201.