1/4/2009: You need to read this story. This morning in the shower, I turned the hot water up as hot as it would go. There must have been some air in the pipes, because the water flow cut out completely for a few seconds. I cursed under my breath. Got things to do, this is just what I need. Then the shower sputtered a bit, and after a few more seconds puttered back until it was flowing full-strength again. Phew. Crisis averted.

Hopefully you have never faced such a hardship. I really thought for a few seconds that there was something wrong with the hot water in my shower.

And that's why it's so important to wake up and support this campaign, today. To say that we take water for granted is an almost criminal understatement. We have plenty of water. The planet has plenty of water. Unfortunately, it's not conveniently located where people need it.

Forget hot showers, toilets, and car washes. Where one billion people live, there are no golf courses, front lawns or water balloon fights. Every drop is precious, and often times, every drop is poisonous.

You see, after women and children have hauled water long distances from stagnant ponds and dried-up muddy holes, they drink it and cook with it. It's loaded with bacteria, feces, and parasitic organisms that cause diarrhea. It's brutal that water-borne disease causes an illness that then causes further dehydration and death. Dirty water is a very effective killer. Over one million children will die this year from dirty water.

They don't have a chance unless we look through our daily conveniences and take the time to care.

Without clean water -- the most basic of human needs -- there is no hope.

Thankfully, there is a very simple and inexpensive cure. This is no Brita commercial. This is real life. People are dying unless we choose to help.

We can drill.

I am trying to raise $5,000 to build a well that will give over 200 people access to clean, safe water.

I need your help to reach 50% of the goal. Then, my donation will match the other half.

I realize that there are many competing priorities for your donation of $10, $25, or $50.

Might you consider giving up bottled water and bottled soda/pop for a month? Please donate the $25 you'll save to this campaign.

Or, promise to take only cold water showers for the next month, to save energy. Then, for every day that you can't do it, donate $1. I think you'll last about 3 days. Please enjoy warm showers and donate $27 to this campaign.

Thanks for helping me to build a well! When it's built, I'll send everyone the Google Earth link to the GPS location and photos.

Yours truly,
Adam