GoFundMe Started to Help Bury Your Dead’s Mark Castillo Following House Fire
One of the biggest nightmares for any homeowner is the possibility that your home and everything you own could be lost in a fire. It can happen anywhere at any time and unfortunately for Bury Your Dead drummer Mark Castillo and his girlfriend Hillary Reed, that nightmare became reality yesterday, October 18.
According to a report in the Republican American, a news organization that serves Castillo’s community near New Hartford, Connecticut, the fire started in the morning. Officials said the fire originated from the roof and that a roofing contractor that was already on the scene as the fire started may have tried to put out the fire before calling for help.
Multiple fire trucks from the surrounding area responded to the alarm, with firefighters eventually entering the home to rescue two cats from a bedroom, so thankfully Castillo and Reed’s pets were saved from the worst. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the home and most (if not all) of their personal belongings, which were ultimately lost in the fire.
In the wake of the blaze, Castillo’s bandmate Mat Bruso and his wife Angie Bruso started a GoFundMe page to help the drummer and his girlfriend get back on their feet. The couple posted the following statement about the incident and the need to help.
“On Wednesday, 10/18, Mark Castillo and his girlfriend, Hillary Reed’s home was destroyed in a devastating fire. While the home will be covered by insurance, the complete and total loss of all their personal belongings will never be fully recognized and will never be recovered from. We have set up this GoFundMe to ask everyone who has ever had their lives touched by Mark or Hillary to help them get through the coming years, as they try to get their lives back in order.
“Anyone who knows Mark knows he is the most kind person you could hope to meet. His talent as a drummer has inspired many. His contributions to so many bands over the years has influenced a huge audience. Bury Your Dead, Emmure, Between the Buried and Me, and Crossfade are just a few of the bands Mark has been a part of, and the members of every band he has ever toured with will tell you he is a very caring, positive, incredibly humble musician.
“Hillary is no less caring. She is no stranger to putting others before herself. Running her small farm in New Hartford, CT, she looks after numerous animals and, while we are all grateful that none of the animals were hurt in the fire, their lives have also been affected. Hillary will have to tend to them without a home on the property. While Hillary and Mark both have lost their shelter and all their things, Hillary’s primary focus in this time will be on the well-being of the animals in her care.
“The logistics of piecing a life back together are impossible to navigate and the items of personal significance Mark and Hillary have lost will never be replaced. The purpose of this fund is to help Mark and Hillary get access to much needed cash to help where insurance falls short. It may be food, furniture, lost wages, or something to tend to the animals — all we know is they are going to need the support and there are none more deserving.”
As of this posting, the couple is seeking to raise $50,000. In the last three or so hours since the page was made, 34 people have donated a total of $2,205, so they’ve got some way to go.
Our thoughts go out to Castillo and Reed during this insanely difficult time. It’s never fun to have to report on this sort of thing, but we’re hoping the MetalSucks community can get together and help an artist out. If you’ve got any money to spare, consider contributing to the GoFundMe.
