When we are young our birthdays are usually about stuff. As the years have passed I need less stuff but I continue to receive it. Often it's stuff I don't want and stuff I definitely don't need.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 50 and have decided to give my birthday to Charity:water. I am inviting a $50 or more gift from everyone I know. Every penny will go to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - and it runs out of my tap easily, effortlessly and I use it daily without a thought.

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts I don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it. I want to make my birthday matter.

Please join me.

please note: Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to direct water projects costs, and each donation is "proved" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.