Chance meeting leads to generous donation

LAND O' LAKES --

The South American country of Guyana is getting a little help from the Bay area, thanks to two men who came together after a chance meeting.

Mike Mielke is a sergeant with the Pasco Sheriff's Office and also the pastor of Wilderness Lake Church in Land O' Lakes.

A trip to Guyana five years ago left Mielke wanting to do more. So he started the charity Guyana Mission Development International, or GUYDMI, to help locals there start their own EMS system.  As part of that effort, Mielke had been collecting medical supplies and equipment to send overseas.

Not too long ago, Mielke struck up a conversation with Terence Ramotar at a car wash.  The two had never met before and when the topic turned to Mielke's missionary work in Guyana, Ramotar couldn't believe it.

"A shock went down my spine and he said why do you look so shocked," said Ramotar. "I said because my entire family is from that country."

As it turns out, Ramotar is the Vice President of TransCare Tampa, a medical transportation service.

"The only missing pieces he needed were ambulances," said Ramotar. "So I said you're in luck.  I just happen to have ambulances that have been in storage that we need to dispose of."

The two ambulances are 10 years old and not allowed on the road anymore in Hillsborough County.  But Ramotar said they both still have about 200,000 miles left on them. 

Each one is now on its way to Guyana, filled with the supplies collected by Mielke and GUYDMI.

"It's very humbling," Mielke said. "Really truly humbling."