Bring Billy Back

Yes! Billy is Back! Billy was found yesterday (8/4/08) in front of Victoria Park on Victoria St. After a long day of passing out "Bring Billy Back" flyers and wearing my "Bring Billy Back" t-shirt, I received an email through the website that there was a spotting. I went to check it out and Collin from Fat Camel Backpackers offered me a ride. As we drove up Victoria St we saw the red and blue flashing lights and a black van. I did not even recognize that it was Billy until I approached the van and noticed the same old scratches that Billy had on his Sky Light! He was completely stripped, full of criminals, and painted black. The police arrested all 7 and had to call for 4 more cop cars to take each of the different criminals to the district of their warrants. I got to drive Billy home with my "Bring Back Billy" t-shirt, which now quite ironically says "Van Stolen" on the front!!! Anyone who saw me must have thought that I had some guts to roll around in a jet black van with hacked off seat belts, stolen Volvo plates, and a shirt that said "Van Stolen."

This is a short version, just wanted to get the post up. Much, much, more happened so come check the site out again to see pictures of the after-Billy and for the full story...

Thanks so much again New Zealand, I could not have done it without your help!
Jeff

please click here to donate

Hi, I am Jeff and Billy is my van, he was stolen from me Saturday morning with everything I had inside. I am left with only the clothes on me, my wallet, & passport. I had to start my day by buying a toothbrush, towel, soap and flyers. I raised enough money for a hostel, food, internet time, and more flyer prints the first day. I unfortunitly lost my video recorder, all my videos of my travels, my clothes, my letters from home, my surfboard, backpacking backpack, my journal (some entries included the best times of my life), my glasses, gifts from friends, and gifts for my family from across the globe….the list could go on forever if I think about it. I am raising money for a reward if Billy is found or to purchase a ticket back home to Chicago or maybe even enough to continue my travels around NZ before returning home,
Thanks everyone for being so generous!

Billy is a tv star. No money was raised today but the campaign made a massive leap forward. The website was created by my friend Jon with the intentions to make sure that I (the best man) can actually afford to get back in time to attend his wedding. As I was walking down the street I passed by a local tv station and my eyes lit up, it was the next level. So I walked in and explained my situation and told the producer that I needed to get my van back. Alt tv was more than happy to put me on their live tv segment called "Alt Live" A link is on it's way to view Billy's tv stardom. Hopefully the first 15 minutes of many more moments of fame to come!

Today only $53 was donated but huge progress has been made with; X Base Backpackers on Fort St, Video Source in Ponsonby St, and Ponsonby Price Cutter, who are now helping to collect donations. Most of the day was spent fine tuning flyers and passing them out to taxi drivers. I got a tip off that the taxi network was good at finding vehicles if there was money involved. Then we decided it was time to eat, so Luke and I thought we might as well use a $50 voucher to a restaurant called 'Estasi' we had been so generously donated the night before, so we walked up to the restaurant, ordered a delicious plate of chicken and a tasty pizza involving pumpkin somehow! Being carefully planned so as to be within $4 of the $50 voucher! Thinking, "wow, we havn't eaten proper food in days!" and enjoyed the meal. When it came time to pay, we quickly produced the voucher, watching with apprehension as we saw the waiteress's face fall.... "this isnt for this restaurant" she said.... our hearts sank... we'd eaten at the wrong restaurant!!!! Luckily the manager of the place, 'S.P.Q.R.' was very nice about it, and so was the waitress who said it would be ok for me to try and swap the voucher for cash down at the right restaurant. While Luke waited for me to get the cash he was even kindly given a free beer by the waitress!! When I got back, after intense persauding of Victor in Estasi to swap the voucher for cash, we were even given a huge plate of ice cream which was just awesome! Next we decided to continue spreading the word about Billy, and got talking to 4 fantastic girls from Newcastle, who were very generous, especially some really cool ideas. Some suggestions were: Talking to the Kiwi Experience bus drivers to see if they could keep their eyes peeled, brilliant as they go all over NZ! Talking to the headquarters of chain hostels to see if they could post a link to here through all of their websites. Plus having them put up posters for us on their way down south, so we have our 1st South Island branch of 'Bring Billy Back'!!! Thanks guys for helping out!

Today was spent making the flyers even better and going to the Sunday Car Mart to see if he was trying to be sold. No Billy sightings though. Then from 4 O'clock to 10 O'clock was spent spreading the word. Today $150 dollars was collected. The largest donation was by Gary at Dida's which was $20 and two free breakfests at Dida's. The next was a $50 gift card to Estasi. Some other $20 donations were also given along with a couple t-shirts from Kristen Walker and Xzenia Witehira. We also made it on Base radio, who were immediately helpfull to our cause, and accidently called them George radio when thanking them. Unprepared on the radio we failed to mention the colour, plate number, make, model, and slogan of Billy.....! We will do better next time. We also got offered a place to crash and some beers but regretfully continued working instead. Thanks again New Zealand and stay posted.
Billy's Dad

On the first day I had to spend canceling travelers checks and changing all bank and email passwords. Then created make shift flyers. Luke and I managed to recieve $55 in donations with 4 hours of work. Got invited to 2 different parties. The first...well lets say there's no way i could have predicted it!!!! We walked down to Napier St. to the very spot Billy had been parked and knocked on the door of the closest house, we were instantly hustled in to join the party with offers of beer and wine, I love the Kiwi's hospitality!! Roughly 30 seconds later we're shaking hands with all sorts of people; the governor of somewhere, people involved with all sorts of media!, apparently a queen of somewhere/something, an ex-Mayor of Auckland! and then John Campbell from Channel 3!!! There was talk put around of maybe getting us mentioned on the tele, or some form of media, however I'm not entirely sure how or if it would even be remembered the next morning to be honest! But hey, it was a better chance than nothing! On our way back we met a guy who worked for channel 2 as well! The other party we got invited to donated $25 dollars and a whole bunch of jello shots, plus a good hour of fun! We also had 3 girls who work for a Auckland Lesbian Magazine donate $20 and post flyers for us at their work. It helped our spirits rise.