A drum corps tour is a busy and sometimes chaotic endeavor, and a crucial piece of equipment to help smooth the process is the 15-passenger van that travels with the corps each summer. As part of our annual fleet evaluation and renewal, the organization has decided it’s time to replace one of our vans. And we’re asking for your help to make it happen.
We Need Your Support!
The cost to replace the van is $50,000, not a small amount of money. We’re asking for your generous support to make it happen. To get us started, Susan Tollers has put up an amazing $5,000 matching challenge to get the campaign off to a strong start. Every dollar donated will be matched up to $5,000, immediately doubling your contribution. Your $25 becomes $50, $100 becomes $200, etc.. Help us achieve the full match and more by donating today.
What Does TT Stand For?
TT stands for Tollers Transport. The vans are named in honor of volunteer and board member Gary Tollers, who sadly passed away on tour in 2016. Gary was a champion of the corps, and more importantly, the young adults that marched each year. He holds a special place in our hearts and the Blue Stars’ vans are named in his honor.
Why Is a New Van Needed?
The lead van plays a vital role in the operation of a successful tour. It arrives at housing sites hours before the buses to make sure set up and other logistics are handled, ensuring a smooth and efficient arrival of the corps. At wake up it can be pressed into duty as a clinic shuttle, on food resupplies, hardware runs, or any number of tasks. It’s the connector from the bubble of tour to the outside world and critical to making it all work.
The Blue Stars currently own three vans. TT3 was purchased in 2010 and is at the end of its usable life for us. TT1 and TT2 were purchased in 2016 and have reached the age and mileage where they are beginning to have mechanical issues. They are safe for use, but in an activity that moves almost every day on tour, any down time can cause significant issues with an efficient tour.
TT1 and TT2 will continue to serve the corps at camps and during spring training as shuttles to airports, clinics, grocery stores, etc… They will also help transfer supplies from La Crosse to the corps while on tour. But their time living the hard life on the road has come to an end.
Please Donate Today
Please consider making a generous donation today to make TT-New a reality. Help us achieve the full $5,000 matching challenge from Susan Tollers and reach our goal of $50,000 to purchase and put this vehicle on the road next summer. Thank you for your support!
