In America, we take clean water for granted to the point of being wasteful. We even use water for recreational purposes while people in developing countries spend their days retrieving unsafe water to provide for their families' needs. Imagine the horror of a parent deciding whether to watch their child die of thirst or of diarrhea because the only available water is full of bacteria, parasites, and waterborne diseases. The lack of clean water also impacts the economic welfare of these communities: women cannot work because they are fetching water, and children usually cannot attend school for the same reason. Men become too weak from illness to work and provide for their familes. It's a vicious cycle, and clean water is the only thing that will help.

These problems are overwhelming, but we can all help, no matter how small it seems. We can make a difference for a community with one well. One well can change the lives of 250 people.

Our families are committed to raising the money for one well by the end of 2013. For our part, we are collecting loose change, holding bake sales, and donating the money we receive for birthdays or holidays. Additionally, we hope to inspire you through our families' pledges to cumulatively walk, run, or bike 5000 miles in the next 18 months: one mile for each dollar we hope to raise.