Steemdrive: The last mile for 27K+ billboard campaign and vote of thanks!

Dear Steemdrivers

More than 24 hours ago we launched the first successful crowdfunded billboard campaign on the disruptive social media platform, Steemit.com. It was an amazing and exciting adventure, far beyond my expectations. In the first two hours not many votes were received which had me concerned, but then slowly support started to trickle in from the unlikeliest of sources.

We even had competition from @thedashguy who was working on a similar concept and launch a few hours after. I know him from the Steemit community and wish his campaign well also, the more exposure for Steemit the better.

I have had a little over 4 hours of sleep in the last 24 hours of this campaign, not only was I vigourously campaigning, but also dealing with severe floods in my region, a nearly flooded home and electricity blackout, the post went live in the dark, with just the Laptop screen light. The flooding in South Africa is all over the news and facebook.

Despite this I was resolved to post this campaign and for doing so was rewarded by unprecedented support from the wonderful Steemit community and are now standing at S 27 499 and growing slowly. Alas there is not much time left, I am not sure when the cut-off will be, my hopes were to have beaten the "Make-up Tutorial" record but that may not happen unless a calvalry of whales decend on this post, or unless a few downvotes are reversed.

We received about 5 downvotes, I'm not sure why...I did reach out to the voters and posted to them to let us know but so far no response. I can't fault our post an cause.

Once we draw to a close I will tally up the earnings and surprise the unawares billboard agency with the awarded contract based on the final amount achieved.

I will try obtain media support and support from the agency themselves for additional coverage in exchange for mention in our "proof of work" post, to follow after the billboard flighting.

Some of our operative liaisons have already joined me in the private Slack channel, our war room and the sites for New Zealand, Venezeula and Chicago are already being actively scouted. The liaison involved will be credited on each post that is submitted for voting by you kind Steemians and Steemdrivers.

In closing I wish to thank all of you for your support, banter and comradery during this campaign, I felt like a president running for office, and am humbled by this experience I have had in life as the one of the most memorable and uplifting, made possible by you all, the community of Steemit.com.

Big upvotes to you all and keep Steemin' the future!

Sincerely,

Ricardo Goncalves
@steemdrive