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 started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build these types of projects around the world, and I'm looking for anyone who can help me.

In a world filled with hurt, hate, and greed, we often don't take a step back and think about what we can do to help other people, even if it is in small ways. So, as a small gesture, I'm giving up my birthday. Instead of receiving gifts, I want to give the gift of clean water to those who don't have any.

If you were planning on getting me something for my birthday, donate the money you were going to spend here instead. If you weren't going to get me something, think about using this opportunity to give to those less fortunate than you.

I was introduced to this charity through the Liturgists podcast, an amazing podcast that examines various issues through the lenses of science, art, and faith. The topic was Suffering, and it broke me (as many topics on this podcast do). What's great about being broken is that it allows you to get back up and view the world from a different perspective. To listen to that episode, you can find it here: http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2016/11/1/suffering-part-1

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.