THE Core has less than two weeks to go to raise more than half the money it needs to fund a new raw food restaurant.

Last month Kris Talikowski, who owns the juice bar in Devizes Road, started appealing to the public to help him expand his healthy eating empire and raise £10,000 to extend the bar and build a theatre kitchen in order to be able to prepare and serve raw food.

He is asking the public to show their support by making a pledge through Kickstarter, an online global crowdfunding platform which helps businesses and creative projects bring their ideas to life with the financial backing and support from the public.

Unlike making a donation, making a pledge through Kickstarter means money will only be taken from supporters’ accounts when The Core reaches its target in an allotted time frame.

And with only 12 days left The Core still has £5,163 to raise.

In a message posted on their Facebook page The Core said: “Almost half way there. Fifty-seven backers, £4,530 pledged so far of our £10,000 goal.

“A massively warm and cuddly thanks to all those who have pledged so far (a big thanks to the 5 A Day Box team for a truly awesome pledge).”

Since The Core opened in March 2013 Kris has converted hundreds to the juicing cult and developed a dedicated customer base of fans, which he wanted to involve in the expansion of the business.

He finally decided the time was right to open a raw food restaurant after a particularly successful summer testing out the cuisine at a number of sell-out raw food evenings, which used uncooked ingredients for dishes, and aimed to preserve all the vitamins and minerals in the food.

“I think that using Kickstarter was the best way to do it because we wanted to say we’d raised the money in an ethical way and we have developed such a strong community it gives an opportunity for them to get involved and be a part of it,” the 31-year-old said.

“We had seven raw food pop-up events and now we want to expand into a restaurant where for three nights a week people can come and enjoy really nutritious, healthy vegetarian, vegan, raw and live food.

“We’ve nearly finished the menu and I’m hoping we can have it all in place by the end of October after a two-day refurbishment.”

Click here for more information on the appeal and to make a pledge