Before 2010, I didn't swim, run, or cycle. And I certainly never wanted to compete in triathlons. But that's about to change...

I got an idea to do it for charity and people I will more than likely never meet, but have a great need. So on August 27th 2011, I'm going to compete in my first sprint triathlon to raise money so people can have clean drinking water.

To be honest with you, the thought of it makes me pretty nervous. But all the hours of training I've committed to this point I've been thinking about the smiles on people's faces as they see clean water pumping out of a new well for the first time.

I've thought of the millions of women and children who have to walk miles each day to retrieve water for their families, I've thought about how most of that hard-earned water isn't even clean and can infect people with deadly diseases. I think about how 45,000 people die each day from waterborne illnesses.

I've thought about how easy it is for me to open a bottle of water and how many times I've taken it for granted.

So, yeah... I'll swim, cycle, and run in my first sprint tri. I can do it. But I need your help.

My goal is to raise $1000 for water projects. Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to water projects, and each donation is "proved" using Google Earth when projects are complete. You can pledge per mile, you can give a lump sum when I complete my sprint triathlon, or you can just donate whatever and whenever you want in the next several months.

Please join me in helping them.

And if you're going to be in the area, come out to cheer me on at the Lake Sammamish Triathlon on Saturday 8/27/11 @ 7 am! I'll need it!!!