As an avid hiker I know what it’s like to hike with a geared-up backpack that holds aid & comfort, I sport proper footwear, and PLENTY OF WATER to keep me hydrated & fueled. Now, strip away all of these luxuries and imagine hiking with heavy reservoirs 8 miles one way every single day to collect water. This is the reality for women + girls in many parts of the world. When I heard the story about a 13-year-old girl who tripped, fell and lost her water collection and was so ashamed to face her mother, she chose to hang herself instead, I was devastated. Now, every time I drink water, take a shower, flush the toilet, etc., I think of this young girl and the thousands of others who labor and risk their lives every day for WATER, a basic necessity of life.

Many of us have no idea what it's like to be thirsty. We have plenty of water to drink -- even the water in our toilets is clean!

But many people around the world don’t have that luxury. Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

I am very passionate about this organization which is why I started this fundraising campaign. My goal is to help charity: water build these types of projects around the world, and I'm hopeful that you will join me.

THIS IS A GIFT THAT WILL KEEP GIVING ON SO MANY LEVELS.

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.