For four weeks from the 2nd ofJanuary, I will drink nothing but water. No tea, no coffee, no juice, no booze. Just H2O (or, with ice cubes, H2O squared). 

And the reason I’m telling you this is because I would like you to encourage me - no, trap me would be a better word - into going through with it without cheating, however tough it gets. It probably will be tough going, but at least the water I’ll be drinking will be clean, safe, untainted by disease and flowing on demand from a tap or a bottle within easy and safe reach.

Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene should be a normal part of everyone’s daily life. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and dependency and change their lives for good.With clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, children are born healthier. They get the chance to go to school and grow up to become adults. Women and men get to earn a living. Whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.  

But it isn’t - for many, many millions. The need is so fundamental that Water Aid has for many years been my main development charity of choice. If a fairy godmother gave me just one wave of her wand, it would be for safe water for all. The geopolitical map of the world would be changed forever. But, pending her arrival, what Water Aid achieve - they and the other related NGOs with whom they work - is breathtaking. Just take a look at their website, www.wateraid.org

To be upfront with you, I’m also checking that I’m actually capable of giving up booze, etc for a month. Please give me the backing to make the answer: yes. 

At the risk of boring you, I will update you now and then (if my ancient brain can master the technology) to let you know, I hope, that I am still on course - and possibly to give a gentle, glancing nudge to any pledging muscles which might by any chance have momentarily seized up. 

For me, my success will be its own reward. But you could help me help others, who need it so much more, to share in it many times over.