Every year, January 29th comes and goes. And come January 30th, there are a few things I notice:

1. I don't feel or look any older.
2. Everything is pretty much as it was the day before, plus the addition of some Facebook wall posts, a few birthday cards, and maybe even a free dinner thanks to a few friends.

But all in all, does it matter? Not really.

So this year I want to change that. When I heard charity:water's founder Scott Harrison tell his story at a Hillsongs concert earlier this year, the tears streaming down my face told me that I could be doing more than just studying international aid in school; I could be doing something about it. Namely, I could give up my birthday to help charity:water build freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

In January I'm turning 26 years old, and instead of asking for gifts or throwing a party, I'm asking for $26 - or more, or less, or anything! - from everyone I know.

It's the cost of 3 drinks at a bar.
It's 1 nice dinner out with friends.
It's 2 movies.
It's a week's worth of Starbucks.

What I'm saying is... it's nothing.

Check out some of the amazing work charity:water is doing, and while you do, think about what it'd be like to spend hours of your day walking to and carrying clean water. Picture drinking water out of puddles or filtering it through cloth to make it "clean". Imagine being completely helpless to keep yourself and your family safe from the deadly bacteria and parasites found in contaminated water. When you look at what we're fighting for, a birthday is really such a small thing to give up.

My goal is $5,000. It's an intimidatingly large number, but I know the hearts and generosity of my friends and family, so I have faith that it can be done! Thank you in advance to everyone who's helping me celebrate my birthday through charity:water this year!

(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.)