Please Support The Chocolate Bus

Project 2013-05-07 02:34:41 +1200

Our Vision

The vision for the bus has always been to support and inspire and carries the message “inspiring Your Love of Life”. In a creative and nourishing way the Chocolate Bus has entered the hearts and community of Christchurch as a time when people needed to be loved, cared for and nurtured -  Thats the energy it carries forth, that the connection it has made with families and community , thats the message we want to spread and share and continue to grow around New Zealand.

Let's Inspire each other, Let's Uplift and encourage and bring a piece of Christchurch to support a culture of creativity and community - help us create a lasting attraction for the people of Christchurch

Originally Built in 1947 this rare London Double decker is One of only three buses of its type and model remaining on the planet this unique Double Decker was brought to New Zealand in the 1990s by George Wallace, a bus enthusiast and lover of unique vehicles. The internal layout of the bus was altered some 10 years layer by a talented boat builder and engineer, Joe Goodin in New Plymouth ..Every step in preparation perhaps for its current use an an inspirational cafe experience with onboard movies  and beautiful chocolate on tap. A very unique and comfortable dining experience.

Scheduled to arrive into Lyttelton Port , Christchurch on September 4th 2010 ( the day the first earthquake hit). the bus arrived the following week amidst diggers and trucks  …Since then the Chocolate Bus has become synonymous with the revival and rebuild of Christchurch.

The Christchurch Story

Since its arrival in Christchurch, the Chocolate Bus has come into its own and embarked on a series of Relief efforts in many communities and throughout the City - It has worked together with many of the city's relief organisations like the Red Cross, The Student Volunteer Army , Rebuild Christchurch and the Civil Defence .During the earthquakes the Bus carried thousands of litres of rich gourmet hot chocolate to Relief Centres, check points and army cordons throughout the city.

Post Earthquakes, The Chocolate Bus continued to support and work with many cross sections of the community and supported fundraisers, schools and even rest homes..bringing back memories and creating new ones for families to share in . Supporting and caring for the people of Christchurch City has been the primary goal together with uplifting the hearts of the people who have suffered and lost so much.

Just a few of the initiatives launched in Christchurch over the last 3 years includes :

• The Kids Chocolate Journeys launched at Kidsfest 2011,
• Chocolate High Teas,
• History , Mystery Chocolate Journeys,
• Evolutionary Cinema Evenings
• The Christchurch Inspiration Tour,
• The Voluntourism Tour with the Student Volunteer Army and Canterbury University,
• Project Christmas with Rebuild Christchurch and
• Chocolate Relief with the Red Cross
• Dare To Care fundraising for communities

The bus has touched the hearts of thousands in its short period. It has even traveled to Wellington for 3 months and featured on the Waterfront during the World Cup

What we need?

Help us raise the $50,000 in two stages - We urgently need to install a reconditioned engine and then secondly to restore some of the ageing bodywork.. If we can do it all at once this obviously makes sense and allows us to build momentum into one campaign .

We have a team of experts assembled in Christchurch who can do the job and we hope to be able to utilise the skills of a visiting engineer from British Leyland over the coming months.. Apparently he is one of the original engineers who worked on these buses in the UK in the 1960s..We will keep you posted on every stage of the way on our You Tube Channel so you can feel part of the process.. Please please help us and get behind this campaign and help us expand the vision of the Chocolate Bus to the wider community of Christchurch and of New Zealand. 

Stage 1 will involved replacing the current Leyland engine and gear box ( Power train) . We have been quoted $25,000 for this job so we are aiming for $30,000 to cover costs of the campaign and any extra oil required

Stage 2 will involve detailing the body work and removing rust and dents and damage . We estimate that this will cost at least $20,000 based on reliable sources.. a similar buses in the UK have had over $100,000 spent on its restoration so the more we can raise the better . Any surplus funds will be held in trust to support the ongoing work of the bus for community and charity

Share the Journey with us

We will update you regularly on all  the gossip and juicy details on our You Tube channel - SHE Universe.. We hope it will be a little bit of Reality TV where you can see each stage of the restoration and the people involved - Unsensored, uncut and Real - All sponsors will have a link to the You Tube Channel emailed to them

We can’t wait to get started so please share this story and lets get inspired together . Lets share the Magic and the Mystery together and truly Life an Extraordinary life.. Its a beautiful beacon of light touching the hearts of both young and old throughout New Zealand. How cool would that be!

Help us continue its journey- You can donate from as little as $5 and get this Party started - Please help us spread the word!!

With sincere thanks

Declan Scott
Director
SHE Universe

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