I discovered and joined up with charity: water earlier this year. I was touched with the stories of mostly young women that spend most of their days walking many hours to collect water. But that water is contaminated. It is spreading infections and disease to the community that they are trying to care for. Providing accessible, clean water to these communities would not only stop the spread of diseases, the young women will have more freedom with their time to go to school and uplift their communities in many other ways.

I started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build projects that provide clean water to communities around the world, and I'm looking for anyone who can help me.

Why a birthday campaign? I have been asked over the years what it is like to have a birthday that is between Christmas and New Years. Since I don't like too much attention, being lost in the shuffle of Christmas and New Years is just fine by me. But what happens is the Christmas high of kindness and love to everyone, to the thoughts of the year that has passed. The people we have lost, the wars that are still unsettled, and will the world ever get better. Add on a birthday to remind me that I'm not getting any younger and what have I done the past year or years to make it any better, and it can be quite a bummer.

Not that I am complaining. I am doing well. I have a good job, am in ok health, and have wonderful family and friends.

But can I do more? I can only donate money and time so far. With some wisdom I am gaining by getting older I am learning that having people help you is not a bad thing. My small donation combined with many others will make a difference.

Why a goal of $1425? It helps one person per year of my life so far.

Please donate to my campaign -- anything you can give is a huge help.

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.