“On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations.” - Rachel Beckwith

Rachel Beckwith wanted to raise $300 by her ninth birthday to help bring clean water to people in poor countries. She was about $80 short of her goal when she turned 9 in June, and then a horrific highway traffic accident took her life away last week.

She was in a car with her mother and younger sister on Interstate 90 when a semitrailer jackknifed into a logging truck, causing a chain-reaction crash involving more than a dozen vehicles, according to media reports. The semi rear-ended the car carrying Rachel, the only person critically injured.

She was taken off life support over the weekend.