Home and puppy lost in fire.

My name is Colin and since I was a young man I've called Larry my step dad, he's someone I love and go to for advice and I consider him one of my best friends. He is also the father of my youngest brother Marshall, who I think is captain cool. They have been living in Grindrod for about ten years.

Larry is in his 60's now and after 10 back surgeries he still gets it done, from working on bikes and trucks to painting to whatever weird random tasks I can come up with he is always doing something. Although he's in tremendous pain on a daily basis he still has been a great dad to Marshall and is still working.

Last night a friend texted me saying Larry's house was on fire, I immediately called Larry several times with no answer. Thinking the worst I started ripping towards Grindrod. On the way I heard my brother was ok as he was at work. As I arrived I could see smoke and my heart dropped, I ran up on the scene looking for Larry, although I was sure he wasn't in the trailer the thought shook me up. I saw Larry and just gave him a hug. He was in shock to say the least. This is when he told me that their young puppy Sasha was in the trailer when it went up and didn't make it out. A neighbor tried to get Sasha out but the house was engulfed nearly instantly.

My fiance and I spoke with Larry, shed some quick tears and we all left, I went to my dad's where Marshall was and it broke my heart when he asked if there was a chance his puppy was still alive, painfully I told him there was no chance.

Like many people through covid and life in general, money got tight for Larry, the choice between house insurance or food on the table, wasn't a choice at all. Larry of course made sure there was food in the fridge. However now Larry and Marshall have lost everything. Larry literally lost an entire life of memories and on top of this there will be no insurance cheque to help ease the pain of lost memories, the heartbreak of losing their puppy not to mention rebuilding a home.

Larry and Marshall never ask for help, yet they are always there to help anyone, Larry's shop is always the place to go if you have any issue, he's always happy to help out. So I'm asking, please help my family, we are all going to do what we can and any amount of money will help them tremendously.

Thank you so much.

Colin Marcetta