In January 2023, Darren became the first person with a disability to complete the iconic challenge of running seven marathons in seven days across seven continents. Known as the World Marathon Challenge, fewer people have completed this gruelling logistical, physical, and psychological test than have stood on the summit of Mount Everest.

Using a specialised all-terrain wheelchair, Darren became the first wheelchair user in history to complete a marathon on the windswept, frozen continent of Antarctica, enduring temperatures below –30°C over 26.2 miles. Antarctica marked the first of seven brutal marathons. What followed was extreme heat in Africa and Australia, a critical 24-hour delay in Cape Town that threatened the entire challenge, and the cumulative psychological fatigue of jumping between continents and time zones, racing again and again on depleted reserves. Seven days later, at 03:30 in the morning, Darren crossed the finish line of his final marathon in Florida, USA – exhausted, elated, and having achieved what many believed to be impossible.

In his keynote speeches, Darren uses this expedition to explore how bold and ambitious goals can be broken down into achievable milestones. When he began planning the World Marathon Challenge, he hadn’t completed a single marathon since becoming a wheelchair user. The lesson he shares with audiences is clear: our goals are not limited by the size of our past experiences, but by the integrity of our commitment, the systems we build, and our willingness to persevere when progress feels uncertain.