My birthday is swiftly approaching (April 30) and this year I wanted to help change someone's life. So I decided to give my birthday up. 1 in 8 people do not have access to clean water, and I wanted to help raise awareness for this cause.

I'm turning 31 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking all of my friends for $31 to help build a well and give water to those who desperately need it. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater wells in developing nations. Even better, every dollar is "proved" when the projects are complete, and photos and GPS coordinates are posted using Google Earth.

My goal is to raise $5,000.
In order to help me reach my goal I have decided to offer YOU a batch of freshly baked cookies in exchange for a $100 donation. I’ll make anything - chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, rolo - you name it, I'll bake it.

Don't forget: A billion people in the world are living without clean water - but how much are they really living? Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families.

charity: water has a 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. That's amazing!

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts that 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 this year.

Please join me. Eat some cookies. Make a difference!

Mel