MAYA MERHIGE

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA

You can support Maya and the fight against cancer by:

• - Donating in support of Maya's mission here. Funds raised by Maya support the Swim Across America - San Francisco charity swim.
• - Following and sharing Maya's story on social media.

Maya Merhige is a 16-year old rising high school senior from Berkeley, California. Maya Merhige plans on completing the Ocean’s Seven, which is a series of 7 open water channel swims throughout the world. Maya swims in support of Swim Across America - San Francisco.

"I’ve loved swimming for a really long time, it’s something that I would do even if I wasn’t raising funds. Being able to raise money for something that is extremely important to me and close to my heart by just continuing with something I love is the perfect situation. Open water swimming is a really challenging sport, and it reminds me every day that regardless of how challenging something might be for me, it’s nothing compared to what cancer patients face. It has really helped me put things into perspective."

"I swim for each and every single person that has ever been touched by cancer. Whether it’s for a patient, a doctor, a family member, or a friend, I swim for them all,” said Maya Merhige. “Cancer is one of the most devastating things to go through, and I swim to honor all of those who use all of their strength to fight this disease. Although I swim for all of them, there is one specific friend whose spirit especially fuels me. Last year, we lost a family friend who sadly passed away from brain cancer (DIPG) in December 2022 at the age of 12. He was one of the most outgoing and adventurous kids I knew, and I just know that he would have loved to be in all of the awesome places that I get to go while swimming."

"I usually have a song that I get obsessed with at some point during my training season for each swim, and it becomes my theme song for that swim. The last thing that I do before I jump in, while I’m on the beach getting ready, is blast that song and dance. There’s an old Croatian ritual that I was taught by a close friend and crew member, which I often scream at the top of my lungs when I’m very frustrated during swims. Little story here: When I was on Molokai, I kept getting really scared. Each time that I would get scared, in my head, I would say to my friend who recently passed, 'You better not let me get eaten by a shark today.' Every single time I said that, I promptly heard or saw dolphins around me, which are known to protect you while in the ocean. Each swim is so different for me, so they all have special things that I attribute to them, especially songs."

Maya is passionate about funding pediatric cancer research in her community and has raised over $100,000 since 2017. She is a long-time member of Team Susan Survives at the Swim Across America - San Francisco charity swim and swam in the event this year on September 30.

Proceeds from her swims will support cancer research and patient care at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program.

Learn more about the innovative breakthrough research that Swim Across America funds.

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions or volunteer hours made by their employees. To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, please search for your employer in our matching gifts portal.

NBC News Now: "Teen swims English Channel to help fight cancer"

People Magazine: "16-Year-Old Successfully Swims the English Channel — Up Next? Her Senior Year of High School"

New York Times: "16-Year-Old Maya Merhige Swims English Channel, Raises +$100,000 to Fight Cancer"

The Sports Column: "At 17, She’s Already Conquered Some of the World’s Big Swims"

SwimSwam: "16-YEAR-OLD MAYA MERHIGE SUCCESSFULLY SWIMS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL"

Berkeleyside (updated): "Berkeley teen braves sharks and hyperthermia in world record swims. What keeps her going?"

Yahoo! Sport: "16-Year-Old Successfully Swims the English Channel — Up Next? Her Senior Year of High School"

Swimming World: "Maya Merhige Swims English Channel at Age 16 to Complete Open Water Triple Crown"

Outdoor Swimmer: "16-year-old Maya Merhige to swim English Channel"

SwimSwam: "16-Year-Old Marathon Swimmer Maya Merhige to Tackle English Channel"

The Sports Column: "Maya Merhige: ‘I Swim for Each and Every Person Who Has Ever Been Touched by Cancer’"

News and Views on the State of Swimming: "MAYA MERHIGE, 16, TO TACKLE ENGLISH CHANNEL & EARN TRIPLE CROWN IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH"

East Bay Times: "In brief: Berkeley girl, 16, swims English Channel, helps fight cancer"

SF Gate: "California Teen Swimmer Makes History With ‘Triple Crown’"

The Mercury News: "Berkeley teen swims English Channel, completing Open Water Triple Crown for a greater cause"

SwimTrek: "'The Girl That Does Those Crazy Swims': Maya Merhige"

Find all media coverage here

In the U.S., please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.