[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 172 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1797-E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MR. DARREN MILLER OF MURRYSVILLE, 
                              PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KEITH J. ROTHFUS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2013

  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
accomplishments of Darren Miller of Murrysville, Pennsylvania.
  On August 29, 2013, Darren became the first American man and only the 
fourth person in history to complete the seven grueling open-water 
swims known as the Ocean's Seven challenge. He spent over seventy-five 
hours braving frigid waters, treacherous weather conditions, and 
dangerous wildlife while swimming across bodies of water including the 
English Channel, the North Channel between Scotland and Northern 
Ireland, and the Strait of Gibraltar. Darren is the only person to ever 
complete all of the swims on the first attempt.
  A graduate of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville and 
Pennsylvania State University, Darren is a product of the first-class 
educational institutions in our Commonwealth. Darren used our beautiful 
lakes and rivers in Western Pennsylvania to train for his

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historic feat, a reminder that the tools for success are within reach.
  Darren also swims to benefit and raise awareness for the Forever 
Fund, an organization he cofounded, to help families pay for the costs 
of treatment in the infant cardiothoracic unit at UPMC Children's 
Hospital of Pittsburgh. He has raised more than $65,000 to date.
  Darren named the Forever Fund in remembrance of his grandmother. 
``She taught me that success has nothing to do with your pocketbook, 
but by how you treat someone who can do you absolutely no good,'' he 
recently said. Darren's personal motto is ``Every breath a gift,'' 
meant to inspire today's youth to overcome personal challenges and 
persevere in accomplishing one's personal goals.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Darren Miller's outstanding 
athletic achievements and service to our community and his fellow man.

                          ____________________