Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty Images
Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty ImagesScott McCaughey, who was part of R.E.M.‘s touring band for nearly 20 years, recently suffered a stroke, but fans, family and friends have come through for him — he’s raised over $94,000 via a GoFundMe account to help pay his medical bills.
The account was only set up Monday by the multi-instrumentalist’s wife, Mary, with a goal of raising $75,000, but as of late Wednesday morning, nearly $95,000 had been donated.
“As many of you know, Scott McCaughey has suffered a major stroke and is receiving treatment in San Francisco,” reads a message on the GoFundMe page. “To all of you who have expressed love and interest in helping him, we have set up this Go Fund Me account to help defray the steep costs of Scott’s medical bills and extensive ongoing physical and speech therapy in the future.”
She adds, “He is still in ICU and has a long, difficult road ahead to recovery, but with his unsinkable spirit (and with time and hard work) we know that he’ll come back from this and be back in your town rocking soon.”
As Billboard reports, McCaughey contributed rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals to R.E.M.’s live shows from 1994 until they broke up in 2011. He’s also a member of The Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5 and The Baseball Project, the latter two of which also feature R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.