Running to bring awareness to the almost 800 Million people without access to clean drinking water.

For my 38th birthday I donated my birthday and raised almost $2000 to build a well in Southern Africa. Charity: Water puts 100% of donor money into Water projects in partnership with the communities they are working to help. They provide photos, email updates and geographic coordinates of all projects as they build. The Build process is about 18-24 months (I'll be sharing the email and photos over the next two months to those interested).

This year I'm turning 42 (which is a very special number for all Marathoners) and I'm again looking to raise awareness and support for this great cause. Almost 800 Million people still do not have access to clean drinking water.

On November 8th I'm running a 50 mile ultra-marathon around the Kennebecasis and Saint John River Systems. We are then following that up with a party at our home on Saturday evening.

I'm inviting all of you to do one, or more of the following

1. Watch the videos - I'll be sharing weekly videos about Charity: Water and the Water Crisis on Facebook. Watch a couple of them and share them.

2. On November 8th, go for a run. Either with me or wherever you are. I'm running at about a 10 min/mile pace (which pretty much anyone can run for a mile) if you are around SJ, come out and join me, I'd LOVE the company. I'll help coordinate my route and I'll even help shuttle you out and back to where I am. 50 miles is about 8 hours, so there's plenty of opportunities. Even come out and run one mile with me.

3. Come over for a party - Starting around 7:00 we're hosting a party at our place. Email me for directions. You do not have to donate to come to the party :)

4. Donate, or remember to donate later. I'm conscious of the fact that I'm on the heals of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and that Movember is coming up, followed by Christmas. There are a lot of great movements happening. Support the ones that touch you. This one has drawn me in.

CHARITY: WATER - SAHEL REGION - WESTERN AFRICA
During the hotter part of the year, the average temperature in the Sahel region of West Africa is more than 110 degrees.

For women here, not having access to clean water means hours of painful and exhausting work. Many of them walk miles each day just to reach the 100-year-old hole in the ground where they collect water. And they make that trip four or five times. Not only is that water contaminated and dirt-colored, but it has to be pulled up by hand, one bucket at a time.

The homemade rope burns their hands; it causes bleeding and leaves callouses — even scars. And sometimes the rope breaks, causing women to fall into the wells.

But we can change all of that!

We can bring solar powered pumps into communities and pipe water to tap stands right next to these women’s homes. We can bring time, energy and a better future to 100,000 people in Mali and Niger.

Help me play a small part in changing the lives of women in the Sahel -- donate to my campaign.

100% of everything we raise will directly fund water projects. And when those projects are finished, charity: water will send us proof in pictures and GPS coordinates, so we can see the actual people and communities we impacted.