HELP MOBILIZE

I've never started my own GoFundMe campaign, but this cause and these people are dear to my heart. It would mean so much to be able to support this wonderful family through truly difficult times.

Rich got his diagnosis of MSA only 3 years ago, and since then the family has been making many necessary changes to ensure a life filled with making good memories and prioritizing everyday comfort. MSA (multiple system atrophy) is a rare degenerative neurological disorder that causes major muscle degeneration that over time, is diminishing Rich's ability to move around easily on his own. He is now relying on a wheelchair to get around. The nature of this disease is that these symptoms will only get worse over time, and Rich's case happens to be developing more rapidly than is typical. When he passes, Rich is donating his brain for research through the Brain Support Network, as this is a rare disease with no cure. This decision speaks volumes about the person he is.

His daughter Kensy has been a true rock for the family, and has taken on the everyday changes and more that have been happening. She is responsible for taking Rich to all of his appointments, physical therapy, doing the grocery shopping and picking up meds. She has dedicated the past 3 years of her life to ensure the well being of her Dad, and has been doing all of this with a car that is extremely old and no longer safe for either of them.

This is a family that would never ask for help, and with winter weather upon us, and the family traveling to and from Wendell, Massachusetts, I would love to help make sure that Rich and Kensy can safely get to appointments this winter and have a car that is completely reliable. Something that makes lifting his heavy wheelchair in and out of less of a task, and one that will not breakdown constantly, as has been the case.

With this diagnosis and the emotional toll it has taken on everyone, one less thing to worry about would make a huge difference. Anything helps. Thank you so much for taking time to read and donate! Please share and help us reach our goal so that we can ease some of the financial burden for this beautiful and loving family, as they navigate this disease and all of the life altering changes that have come with it.

With Love and Gratitude,

Tiffany Castillo & Sarah Griffith-Essig