This is a big big year for me. I turn 40 this year!!! Can you believe it? The girl that acts like an 18 year old (or younger at times) is officially turning 40 and to be honest, I could not be more excited. I am going to make the most of this year… I promise you that!!! For instance, I signed up for my fourth marathon… nothing like running your fourth marathon during your 40th year. Last time I ran one was in 2006 (that seemed so long ago!!)
But the one thing that I am most excited about is raising money for Charity: Water. 
I decided to run a campaign for my birthday because what better time to celebrate life and the wonderfulness of it then to ask people to contribute to an organization that I truly believe it. Not only do I feel that clean water can change lives but the fact that all the money goes to building the wells and not to pay for administrative costs. I can not tell you how many times I get mailings from organizations that I donate to and become discouraged that my money went to that mailing. It’s crazy!!!
Try for just a minute to imagine what life would be like if you turned on your faucet and the water that came out was dirty and diseased? Because 4,100 kids will die from water-related diseases TODAY! Imagine if you had to travel by foot hours to get water. How would that impact your day? Think about those moments that our local towns have issues with their water and they have to boil their water or use bottled water for days…. now imagine if that was your life… every… day!!! It is hard to imagine right because we are so so lucky. I do believe that when clean water is available, life becomes safer and better and will transport people into greater possibilities. I am lucky… I have everything I could possibly want or need and now I ask that together we make a difference and donate.
I ask you to please think about giving to my 40th birthday campaign for Charity: Water. I promise that any amount of donation will make a difference… But I ask you to please think about it!! Just close your eyes and think about clean water, think about not having it, think about donating.
https://my.charitywater.org/banks-40th-birthday
I also wanted to take a moment to thank all my amazing family and friends from EMC, VMware, and Juniper that have helped make a difference in the world and truly in my life. I have leaned on you for so much and you have not failed to assist me… Thank you to Michael White (@mwVme), Keith Coughlin (@K_Coughlin), Scott Dougherty (@scottdougherty), and Rajeev Dawar (@VirtuallyRaj) for donating $400 each… Truly blessed…. Truly Truly Blessed! I have without a doubt surrounded myself with amazing people.
