If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this recently – well, let’s just say I might have to retire. Tough to take a few days off with this crowd. There are plenty of great adventures left on the ‘bucket list’!
The future of Team Forever and the Forever Fund is bright, as we have only just begun to scratch the surface as to what is possible. While these past few years we have been able to help so many families, it has all been done on a ‘grass-roots’ level. Working full-time, training, part-time Masters-level schooling, speaking engagements, etc. have taken up quite a bit of my life since 2009, and I could not be more excited to have more time on my hands to see where we can go from here.
I am looking to enhance my professional speaking career to branch out to corporations, both at the national and international level. The unique angle of knowledge gained through almost a decade in the financial industry, and the incredible mental strength I’ve developed through endurance athletics will come together to form a presentation that will truly inspire any work force. I cannot be more excited to be working with a professional speaking coach to build and develop this concept.
We are also working with an experienced cinematographer, who currently films at the network level. My pitch on a show to cover endurance sporting events is an idea like no other out there, and I’m very excited to get back into leveraging my Broadcast Journalism degree. We have a few ideas in the hopper as to how we are going to make a pitch to the networks, but we are still in the early production stages at this point. I don’t want to release too many details just yet, but stay posted for updates!
I am in the early stages of planning the ‘Three Rivers Marathon Swim’ for the 2014 swimming season. This event is an off-shoot of the 9-hour swim, leveraging the three Pittsburgh Rivers that I completed back in early August. It will bring an international audience toPittsburgh, and I am really looking forward to getting the region involved in showcasing our beautiful city! We will have sponsorship packets ready to go by the end of the year, so we can start soliciting for corporate involvement. I know this event will receive plenty of great publicity, so I am confident we will be able to connect businesses to this wonderful charity event for Team Forever and the Forever Fund!
As always, I can never sit still, but I am really enjoying weightlifting, running and cycling at the moment, while I continue to focus on more than just swimming. Don’t worry, I love the sport, and will be back in the water in a few weeks to start training because I simply cannot stay away from that permanent smell of chlorine.
With love and respect,
Darren
P.S. I’ve update the Media section with recent newpaper articles and other coverage – take a look!