Meet Maya Merhige, the Berkeley teen who’s basically laughing in the face of danger while making the world a better place. At just 17, she’s not your average high school student – she’s a marathon swimmer taking on some of the world’s most treacherous waters, all while raising funds for pediatric cancer research.

Swimming Through Hell

Imagine swimming 27 miles through pitch-black seas, getting stung by jellyfish every few seconds, and still keeping your cool. That’s just another day for Maya. She recently conquered the Cook Strait in New Zealand, battling sharks, whales, and her own physical limits in a grueling 14-hour swim that would make most people cry uncle.

Beyond the Swim

What makes Maya truly extraordinary isn’t just her physical prowess, but her incredible motivation. She’s raised over $130,000 for pediatric cancer research and has a powerful mantra: “There are kids in hospitals right now getting chemo. If they can get through that, I can keep swimming”.

The Road Ahead

With four of the seven Oceans Seven swims already completed, Maya is on track to become the youngest person ever to complete this insane marathon swimming challenge. And did we mention she’s heading to college on a pre-med track? Talk about goals!

This Bay Area superhero is proof that age is just a number when you’ve got passion, determination, and a heart of gold.