Help Dreams Come True Before It's Too Late

This week we look at a couple of examples of people who are battling against time for one reason or another and how they crowdfunding is going to help make their dreams come true.

Plus, an Aussie duo who'll sing your voicemail message, a robot who can see colour and an ad blocking company taking out ads to tell people how ads are terrible.

Name: Tryxx
Project: Hair I Go Again documentary
Current Status: 107 pledges, 80% ($8,040) of $10,000 goal achieved, three days remaining.

You've never heard of Tryxx, a metal band out of Tampa, Florida who were around in the 1980s but never really went anywhere. Well, the members are going through their midlife crises and they're reforming the band to get that fire back in their (now substantially larger) bellies.

What's more, they're making a film about it, and they've got members of bands like Motley Crue, Motorhead, Anthrax, Warrant, Dokken, Ratt, Queensryche, Quiet Riot, Great White and heaps more to appear in the film alongside them. You can check out the trailer above and see whether you're interested in helping them bring their story to screens around the world.

Name: Brad Carter
Goal: Record an album before it's too late
Current Status: 277 pledges, 40% ($18, 051) of $45,000 goal, 16 days remaining.

Brad Carter has Essential Tremor, a neurological disease with no cure that has all but made him lose control of his hands. Given he's a guitarist, this is pretty devastating for him. He has recently undergone surgery that has bought him a little time and, with this time, he wants to make a record, though understandably needs some financial assistance to make that a reality.

He's looking for $45,000 and has enlisted the help of some well-known celebrities to help raise that cash, including Tony Hawk, Lance Krall and Gerry Bednob, so far. Autographed photos, copies of the album, Skype calls and such are available, but perhaps the best perk of this project is knowing that you're helping someone who is doing everything in their power to not merely lie down and accept their fate.

Name: Little Stevies
Project: Promotion of new album
Current Status: 194 pledges, 87% ($10,520) of $12,000 goal achieved, ten days remaining.

Melbourne's Little Stevies have made a new record and they're very, very proud of it. While the album is now complete, they still need to ensure it's released with the right kind of promotional backing, so they're hoping to raise $12,000 to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

Obviously the record itself is the main perk, with other merch like tea towels and stubby coolers thrown in as well, but there are some very unique and cool perks like having the ladies sing your voicemail message for $75, an on stage proposal (they'll propose anything that's not too dirty to anyone you like, not just marriage) for $150, a song inspired by you and your loved one, recorded and sent to you by Valentine's Day next year for $300 or you can have the whole damn album dedicated to you for $4,000.

Also in crowdfunding this week:

Pixi is a robot that recognises colour, which might not sound all that interesting at first, but wait until you see it in action. The video on its Kickstarter is pretty mindblowing (though it's hard to know exactly what it will be used for at this point in time) and people are lapping it up – it's almost 500% funded.

We have to give PC World props for their headline on the new crowdfunding campaign run by AdBlock; AdBlock launches crowdfunding campaign to create ads about blocking ads. AdBlock are looking for $25,000 so they can fund ads that spruik their service. Amazing. They hit their goal, by the way.