On 27 April, I'm turning 40.

It's that time of my life where I'm probably due to buy myself a sports car, quit my job and start wondering what life is all about. I guess I'm due for my mid life crisis.

Problem is there's another 'crisis' going on around the world at the moment - one that's happening over water and I'd like this year's birthday to be about helping to solve that one.

Millions of people don't live to see their fifth birthdays (let alone their 40th) because they don't have access to clean, safe water.

This year for my birthday I'm asking you to consider helping me solve the world's water crisis by donating a little money to Charity Water - an organisation that is working to give clean drinking water to the billion people on earth who don't have what most of us take for granted.

I'm asking for $40 from everyone I know (although feel free to nominate your own amount big or small) -- and every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund clean water projects in developing nations.

Even better, charity: water will show us exactly which projects we funded once they've been fully completed (which takes about 18 months). That means we'll be able to see the communities we've helped!

My goal is to raise a minimum of $5000 by my birthday, 27 April. I think we could do more than that - but that's my minimum target.

Please join me to make this birthday count.