Radnor High School Alumnus and Comeback Triathlete Matt Miller to Share Inspiring Story of Perseverance

Radnor High School graduate and St. David's resident Matt Miller (‘06) will discuss his inspiring journey from suffering traumatic brain and physical injuries to recovering to compete as a successful triathlete on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Radnor High School auditorium, 130 King of Prussia Rd. Joining Miller for his story of perseverance and overcoming adversity will be Pulitzer Prize-winning "Philadelphia Inquirer" reporter Michael Vitez, whose book, The Road Back: A Journey of Grace and Grit, chronicles Miller's accident and his amazing comeback. 

The event is presented by the Radnor Alumni Council and is open to the public. Tickets are $10 per adult and can be purchased here. Radnor students with ID can purchase tickets at the door for $5. All proceeds benefit the Radnor Alumni Council.

An avid athlete, Miller began participating in triathlons while attending the University of Virginia. During a regular training bicycle ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway in November 2008, he lost control and swerved into the path of a car, suffering severe injuries that almost claimed his life. In the months following, Miller fought back from injuries that many thought would leave him permanently impaired. With family, friends, and community by his side, he made a remarkable comeback and, less than a year into his recovery, finished 28th out of 2,500 in his first post-accident triathlon. He also graduated from college and enrolled in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. Today, a healthy and happy 24-year-old Miller shares his story to inspire those who have also suffered from traumatic injuries and encourage athletes to pursue their dreams.

Miller started his schooling in Radnor Township School District in 3rd-grade at Wayne Elementary School after moving to the area from New York. He then attended Radnor Middle School, where he enjoyed the Watershed program in 7th-grade and played baseball. In high school, Miller lettered for four years in golf and swimming and played one year of varsity baseball. He was also a two-year captain of the swim team.

Michael Vitez was one of those people affected by Miller's amazing journey. A staff writer at the "Philadelphia Inquirer" for 27 years, he won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism for a series of stories about five people approaching the end of life. He first reported on Miller's inspiring story in a three-part series in 2009. Then, according to his website, Vitez "watched [Miller]...recover in the most astonishing ways and decided to take a leave and write the book." The Road Back: A Journey of Grace and Grit was published in May 2012. Vitez has also taught classes in narrative non-fiction at the University of Pennsylvania and was a visiting Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton. He is a former Michigan Journalism Fellow and the author of Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America’s Most Famous Steps. 

The Radnor Alumni Council is an independent, non-profit, community organization whose purpose is to unite graduates of Radnor High School. The group welcomes all who have graduated from RHS and invites non-graduate residents of the Radnor community to support the organization. The group acknowledges the importance of character, culture and community in celebrating the diversity of Radnor.

For additional information, contact Chris Massaro at cmassaro@comcast.net.