There are 800 million people in the world living without access to clean water. Let's change that!

My birthday is almost here and somehow I've made it to the ripe old age of thirty five. I'm not usually excited about getting older (beyond the idea of throwing another silly costume party), but this year I want to do something different. No costumes and no gifts. Please read on.

I had the opportunity to visit the Tigray province of northern Ethiopia with the charity:water crew last year (read my account on the Guardian website at http://bit.ly/1hI2Tfb) and saw first hand how millions of kids around the world won't live to see their fifth birthday because they don't have access to clean, safe drinking water.

We can help change that!

I'm asking for my age in dollars from everyone I know. Every penny of the money raised will directly fund clean water projects in developing countries. 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 know the locations and names of the communities we helped.

Help me reach my goal. Please donate to my birthday campaign!

Andy x