the intro

My name is David. I'm a senior at the University of Georgia, and in May I am going to do something I have always wanted to do. I will tour the country playing music.

the trip

I will play twenty-one cities in the eastern United States and Canada in seven days. I don't have a tour bus, though. I don't have a band. I don't have a cd... I don't even have a record deal. As a matter of fact, I'm a semi-poor guitarist and vocalist. I have almost nothing that is needed to go on tour. All I have is an old, beat up car and a guitar. I don't care, though. Instead of playing in clubs or bars in each city I'm playing on the sidewalk. It may seem kind of strange, but in a quirky way I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream of touring the U.S. while playing music.

the purpose

When I first conceived the road trip idea I didn't have anything planned except driving. I decided later to take a guitar and play some "shows" just to entertain myself. Very quickly the idea got bigger, and I think it has become a worthwhile trip to take. The way I see it, I'm doing something that's symbolically very cool to a lot of people. I'm taking a very far-out childhood dream and making it a reality in a very quirky way. So, this trip is bigger than my initial plan of merely having a little bit of fun. Now, it's about following dreams, no matter how you have to do it. Everyone has dreams they haven't attained; everyone wants the power to make those dreams happen.

the problem

Unfortunately, there are people who can't recognize their dreams because they are no longer with us; this trip is in their memory as well. Recently I spoke with a friend of mine whose father committed suicide. I learned how my friend's life was changed forever because his father felt he couldn't continue living. I thought about multiple friends I've had through the years that ended their lives for different reasons. They can't follow their dreams now.

the solution

I am a huge fan of what Nuci's Space in Athens, GA stands for, and for what they give back to the Athens community. Nuci's Space offers a safe haven to musicians with Clinical Depression. They offer support groups to suicide survivors as well as short-term prescription assistance, walk-in visits to the doctor, and referrals to professional counselors. Nuci's Space focuses on the well being of musicians. On their behalf I am donating $.05 for every mile of the 3,779-mile tour. Donating only $.01 per mile helps the cause tremendously. Hopefully people will consider what dreams they have previously left behind, and determine what they can do to make those dreams a reality. Dreams can come true. I am asking that people consider donating money to Nuci's Space to keep the hope and dreams alive in musicians and citizens around Athens.

the gratitude

A $.01 per mile ($37.79) donation earns you a DVD of select sidewalk performances from the road trip. A $.05 per mile ($188.95) donation is good for the DVD and a hand-made tour t-shirt. On the donation page use the In Memory Of field to specify t-shirt size and style. A $.10 per mile ($377.90) donation gets a DVD, t-shirt, and original acoustic song written and recorded by David Hill about the topic of your choice. Please add your t-shirt size and style as well as song topic to the In Memory Of field on the donation page. All orders should should include the word "tour" in the In Memory Of field. All DVDs, t-shirts, and songs will be mailed to donors within 60 days of the tour's completion.

the extra mile

The road trip's expected cost is around $1,200. If you would like to donate money for gas and lodging please donate via PayPal to dhdrum@aol.com by clicking the donate button below. Any help is greatly appreciated and will receive a thank you gift as well.