As many of you know, almost three months ago I quit my job, sold the majority of my things, and jumped on a plane to southern Spain.

I'll try to keep this as wanky-wishy-washy free as I can, but the process of selling (and giving away) most of my possessions has taught me, as I hoped it would, that we really don't need our 'things' to live a good life. Save a couple of DVDs, I can honestly say I haven't missed anything.

When I realised my birthday was soon coming up, I knew I would struggle to come up with anything physical I would possibly want. Luckily, around this same time, I came across an interview with charity: water founder Scott Harrison (click on the 'meet the founder' tab under 'about us' in the navigation bar). I was sold.

This year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 24 years old at the end of the month, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $24 (approximately £15) from everyone I know. If you can't afford the $24, you're more than welcome (and encouraged) to give less. All of the money raised is going to build freshwater projects for people in developing countries.

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all donations go directly toward water projects (click on the '100% Model' tab under 'about us' in the navigation bar). And about 18 months after this campaign ends, charity: water will show us where and how every dollar we raised ended up helping in the field. We'll see GPS coordinates, photos and more details about the communities we've impacted.

Almost 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. 30,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still have to walk hours each day to get dirty water for their families.

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 people living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

Please join me, and more importantly, please consider doing the same for your next birthday!

- B