SUMMIT COUNTY — To honor their son who died in a boating accident on the Dillon Reservoir, the parents of Adam Brown have been raising money fervently to help the Summit County Water Rescue Unit purchase the high-tech sonar equipment that helped recover Brown’s body.

“This is what we can do to continue to make Adam’s life count,” Debbie Brown said. “New equipment will really help with rescues in the future, and I think Adam would be pleased knowing that.”

Brown fell overboard into the reservoir on Aug. 6, and water-rescue crews searched for three days before bringing in a side-scan sonar on loan from Colorado State Parks.

“What used to take a day to cover, the side-scan sonar can do in just a couple of hours,” said Cris Bezinque with the Water Rescue Unit. “The new sonar paints a picture of the bottom, so there is no more guess work.”

Using the new equipment, rescue crews had to search for only a few hours before they found Brown’s body in 47 feet of water.

Purchasing the new equipment will cost upwards of $40,000, and the Brown family has already helped raise close to $8,000 through fundraisers in their home state of Indiana.

On Oct. 12, the family hosted a silent auction benefit in Columbus, and the event generated more than $4,800.

“When people donate, it really shows us what Adam was about to other people,” Brown said. “We’ve just been so impressed with how people have come forward, and that is a reflection of Adam’s values and character.”

Numerous Summit County businesses offered up donations to auction off, including Copper Mountain Resort, Adam Brown’s employer for seven years.

“Volunteer teams don’t usually get much money, and when we do, we usually have to use it for repairs and training,” Bezinque said. “Most times, we get a thank you, but something like this really means a lot.”

Currently there is only one side-scan sonar available for rescues in northwest Colorado, and one in Summit could help rescue operations statewide, according to Bezinque.

“We would be able to share this equipment with other counties all over the state,” Bezinque said. “It’s a really big deal for us... We could help so many people.”

In addition to the silent auction, the Brown family is organizing a second fundraiser in November and a golf tournament in North Carolina in the spring.

“When you lose a child, you lose their dreams and their future as well,” Brown said. “Raising this money and helping these rescue workers is another way for him to keep on shining.”