Dozens of local motorcyclists gathered Tuesday evening to ride together in honor of fellow fallen rider, Sammy Castaneda.
What began as a simple Facebook post to get the word out about a memorial ride for Castaneda resulted in a parking lot full of motorcycles and riders joining together to pray and show their support for the Castaneda family.
“We purchased a meal for the family today [Tuesday] and we kinda got group together on Facebook and spread the word to get as many bikes as we could out there to show our support,” said Bobby Guevara, a family friend of Castaneda and one of the organizers of the “West Texas Raza Run,” who helped lead the memorial ride.
“We’re out here today to show support for another brother that was riding a motorcycle and got in a wreck, and unfortunately lost his life, and when that happens that affects not only his family, but everyone who rides,” said Randall Christopher, a rider and the treasurer of the Alternative MC riding group, one of the several groups that gathered Tuesday. “I’m very honored to be here for it.”
The large group gathered at a lot behind a United Express mart off of 4th street and Milwaukee where they said a prayer before leaving together to Castaneda’s family’s home to deliver a dinner for the family.
The family walked out to find the crowd taking over their yard and driveway, where they then began to exchange hugs and words of love and support among one another.
“It means that a lot of people realize that a life went really soon and that they want to show their respects to a man who had a lot of loved ones around him,” said Castaneda’s son, Samuel Castaneda.
Roman Martinez, Castaneda’s brother, was riding with Castaneda at the time of the accident. Martinez says he had just recently picked up riding, and that while it may take awhile to get back on his bike, he feels overwhelmed by the bigger family he has been welcomed into.
“I didn’t realize that in just a month a half, I could gain a brotherhood like this,” said Martinez, motioning to the large crowd in his family’s yard. “And how they came together in just a few phone calls. There are no words to express what this means to his family right now.”
It was definitely picture perfect,” said Martinez.
Castaneda will be laid to rest on Friday morning. There will be a funeral at Trinity church, and a procession to follow to the Brownfield cemetery.
The family shares that if anyone would like to assist with funeral expenses, that they can donate to the “Sammy Castaneda Memorial Fund” at any Plains Capital Bank location.
