In 2009 while sitting on a plane flying over Europe I read an article in the New York Times about a new “start-up” charity that was changing the way people were giving and viewed charity organisations. This organisation was called charity : water and I was instantly in love. I come from a family who have always given generously to charity but I found myself, as with so many others, disillusioned with charities - in short I had no trust my money would actually go to the cause I was desperate to support.

Charity : Water I would learn was different. Founded by a former nightclub promoter in NYC- please read Scott Harrison’s story it’s inspiring - It has a 100% model generously made possible by donors who cover not the water projects themselves but the operating expenses of the charity itself which guarantees 100% of every donation goes to water projects - they even subsidise the credit card fees etc

This was a huge deal to me and something unheard of in the charities I had researched. But what drew me in further was that YOU the donor were connected to the cause like never before. Using modern technology you were provided updates of the difference your money was making. Stories, photos and videos of wells being dug and lives being changed forever. And the stories were, while some failures are unavoidable, positive. I wasn’t being guilted into donating by a sad starving child I was being uplifted by photos of joy and happiness of the lives that would never been the same again.

As I approach my 10 years of support, and not discounting the $1000s I have donated to their annual September Campaign and other special fundraising efforts, I have decided it’s time to make the next step in my journey. Today while I sat in an airport lounge with an overwhelming desire to jump on a plane to Africa and go and help, I know the time isn’t right for that type of adventure for me - not just yet.

So I have signed our family up to “The Spring” a monthly donation program that ensures the life of this organisations which is saving millions of lives every year. I have also properly set up my mycharity : water account and ask that if you ever feel the need to get me a gift, or make my day, please put a donation in here instead - it doesn’t matter how small