Help Airpusher Soar Once More

Team fundraiser

Airpusher Collective and 3 others are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

AIRPUSHER SHIPWRECKED

To our dearest community,

We write today with unfortunate news - on the way home from Burning Man 2022, our beloved Airpusher, The Steampunk Airship, got into a serious accident at the top of Donner Pass on Wednesday September 7th, and is now undrivable and inoperable. We’re heartbroken, especially after such a magical Burn.

THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS KILLED OR HOSPITALIZED IN THE ACCIDENT, but we still have crew in pain and unable to work.

We’re launching a GoFundMe to:

Take care of our crew involved in the accident (medical expenses not covered by insurance and lost wages while recovering)
Cover the costs of getting the ship back to the Bay (either through repairs or tow)
Keep us afloat while we figure out what to do next

HOW YOU CAN HELP

It’s not lightly that we ask for direct donations to Airpusher. In the past, we have successfully raised funds through our own events, by bringing the ship to gigs, and camp dues. But today is different, we are in crisis.

We humbly ask for your help to amplify and share this post for others to see and potentially contribute as well.

WHAT HAPPENED

Capt Fay, our distinguished mechanic and driver, performed heroically. There was a stopped truck in the middle of his lane around a turn on the 80 westbound freeway, no flares, no cones, no signs, only the vehicle taillights. No time, no warning. Thankfully Fay was well-rested and alert (having just come off a sleep in Reno); and considering the weight of Airpusher it was a minor miracle he was able to maneuver the ship to avoid an even more damaging and tragic collision.

While no one was in the stopped truck, Jelly Ramone, our dedicated driver support, was in the passenger seat of Airpusher. Both she and Fay were taken to the hospital and released later that night. They are both dealing with the trauma and pain from the accident and such a tragic end to their Burn.

We got a heavy-wreck tow to a Burner-friendly property in Dobbins, where Airpusher now rests in her coma.

WHAT’S NEXT

We’re not sure. The funds we’re raising will give us the space to step back, figure out what repairs would look like, and gather our thoughts. We need time to assess and evaluate our options. We might fix the base vehicle. We might get a new base vehicle. We might start a new project altogether… We don't want this to be the end for Airpusher! There can be opportunity found in misfortune. We as a Collective will take our time to look for it.

One thing is certain, the more of you who let us know that Airpusher (the ship, the community, the collective, the music, the love) IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, the more likely it is that we’ll figure out a way to bring her back in some form or fashion. We put a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and passion into this project and it would mean the world if you could help pick us up with words of kindness and/or any monetary donations in our time of need. We do what we do because of you. <3

Thank you,

Airpusher Collective