Main fundraiser photo

Help getting us back on the road

Donation protected

We're beyond ourselves over your love and support. Since we can manage to lend the remainder of what we need for repairing Chewie, we have decided to close this crowdfund as of October 1st. You're amazing, all of you. (Read more on this in the update at the very bottom of this page.)



We’re on the road for almost a year now. During that time, we’ve learned a lot, about ourselves and about our fellow human beings. One of those lessons is that it’s okay to be humble and to ask for help when needed. So here we are. Humbly asking for help.

When we began our journey a little over a year ago we tried to start out as good as possible. We invested all of our savings in a van, with the garage’s assurance that it would be technically perfect and take us places for years on end. In hindsight, we now know that ‘technically perfect’ and an ‘old van’ rarely combine. Having said that, the old van got us passing the Atlas mountain range in Morocco and all the way to the Sahara and back. And she grew on us. She’s not just an old van anymore, she is our home now – the only one we have. Our Chewie. :)


We knew that there would be a point where we would need to invest in her again, to keep her going. Only that investment came a lot sooner than expected and the amount of it took us off guard. Two weeks ago, mid-September, we brought her to a garage to fix the ongoing head gasket problem and we were assured that a couple of hundred euros would get Chewie in shape again. But the garage missed the appointment, so we needed to go to another garage. There, we heard a whole different story.

Several expert opinions later we now know that just fixing the head gasket will be a total waste of money. The engine is terminally ill and will die altogether sooner than later. So, it seems like we dodged a bullet, but we are now facing an unaffordable new challenge.


At first, we reached out to the garage where we bought Chewie, but they refused to help us. So, at this point, we are taking on all the extra jobs we can, but even while doing that it will take us at least half a year to get together the money we now need to fix this problem. And all that time we will not be able to continue our journey. Or even drive a distance.

Therefore, we have decided to do what we rarely do and reach out for help. When we posted about our problems on Instagram we received so many nice comments and messages from you guys. Several people asked us to set up a fundraiser, so they could contribute to help us get back on the road.


We want to continue our journey as soon as possible. Because we love it. And you know why? Not because it’s the pinnacle of freedom and care-less living, because it’s not. We couldn’t have been more wrong, thinking that. Living like this turned out to be a harsh adventure, with so many more insecurities. But it does teach us exactly what it’s all about. While on our way, we get to learn so many precious things. If there’s one thing we want to do, is sharing ‘em with you. So you are reminded that you are the boss of your own life.


And you know what: during the toughest times (like now) it’s your courageous comments that keep us going. Because even though life may be quite simple, it certainly isn’t easy.

So, of course we aren’t going to stop! We hope that everyone who enjoys following us and who can spare a few bucks will want to pitch in.  If even only half of our fans on Instagram and Facebook donate only one euro, we're already there. (Unfortunately this platform only allows payment through credit card. If you would want to make a small donation by bank transfer, please let us know .)

Combining the faith and forces of this community we will be able to get Chewie to an expert who will fix her, and get us back on the road within about a month. That way we can all prove that love and passion can make anything happen, all day every day.


This is what, as a sponser, YOU help us create:
- Instagram
- YouTube
- our project's website

(N.B. We have never earned a single euro with these platforms. We're not in it for the money, and the funds donated will 100% benefit the repair of Chewie - next to the extra money we are trying to earn for this ourselves.)



UPDATE (September 26th)
Your support is amazing. Nothing I can say can does it justice. That's okay though, because actions speak louder than words. I promise I will pay it forward. Your kindness inspires me. It also makes me believe this world isn't half as shitty as many think it is. We are 'only' human, but it seems that when we join forces, we are capable of the most unbelievable stuff.

There is magic in the air. ✨ Not only have you guys raised over a thousand euro's for Chewie's busted engine already, something I can hardly grasp, we have also been able to close a deal with the magnificent Bernard van der Ploeg. Recommended by so very many of you, we had already chosen him to be the one to fix our brown baby. There has honestly not been a single other mechanic we have seen these days which took it upon himself to so carefully investigate Chewie's problems. And he offered us a beer, that too. Because Bernard is in dire need of having a website to showcase his arts, and because Jeroen and me both happen to be experts in the field of branding, we have arranged to swap time for time. That means we will only have to pay for the parts, which means the total amount of 5000 euro's is now down to 2500. Still a large amount, but so much less already.

So, yeah, here we are. Relieved but also still in need of about another 1500 euro's before we can get Chewie to Bernard. Until then we're not able to go anywhere.


So we ask you, if you enjoy our updates (whether it's my updates on Instagram or Jeroen's videos or our personal blogs on liveslowdriveslower.com) and if you feel like they add some kind of miniscule value to your life, please consider supporting us with a small donation. Every single € or $ or £ or ¥ helps to move the date forward on which we can get going again, and go on with making cool stuff which hopefully inspires you more or less.

If you'd like to donate but don't have a creditcard: send me a pm! Thank you, from every corner of my heart, body and soul.



UPDATE (September 27th)
We have also received many donations by bank transfer and PayPal . Thank you for making this extra effort. :)

To be precise: 140 euro's can be added to the amount of money raised right here. Wow. 


UPDATE (October 1st)
This photo was taken on September 19th, an hour before the first of many specialists told us Chewie's engine is dying. Not what we had expected, after having investing all our savings in a 'technically perfect' van which was supposed to take us all over Europe the coming years. We were devastated, but then turned to eachother and promised that we'd do whatever it takes to get Chewie with ourselves in it back on the road. Remaining in The Netherlands for over at least half a year to earn the extra money necessary? It'll do, it's not like we had any other option.


BUT then you guys showed up. Asking where to donate a few euro's or so, saying that if all our fans would do the same, we'd be on our way in no time - and everyone could enjoy the stories again and be inspired. We felt encouraged and started a crowdfund page. What happened next is unbelievable. There were times I sat in tears because of the amounts donated but very much also because of the precious personal messages that came along with them. Perhaps you have sometimes recognised that every so often I struggle with the 'why' of it all. Well, your kind and true words resonate and bring about a lot of strength and creativity I didn't know I have in me. Thank you for that.

I am also proud of ourselves of having thought of an amazing way to get the total amount lowered down to only half of it, 2500 euro's, because we are going to help the mechanic who'll fix Chewie with something he's in need of by swapping time for time. That's some serious barter economy right there.

We have decided we're going to put an end to the crowdfund campaign right now. You have shown so much love already and thanks to you, the remaining amount is down to something we can actually lend and be able to pay back within reasonable time. That means that we have actually made an appointment for fixing Chewie's engine!! I almost don't dare saying it, but in two weeks from now on she'll be all healthy again?!

So, today is October 1st - and this world is again a little bit more beautiful than before, thanks to you.

#becausewevan


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Organizer

Hedwig Wiebes
Organizer
Amsterdam, NL

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