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Heart disease claims the life of one out of every two Americans.
I.O. Silver,
who was a well known general practitioner in Steelton, died of multiple
cardiovascular failures in December of 1994. He is now honored by
one of the most lucrative and philanthropic road races in the midstate.
Runners from
around the world will take a tour of downtown Harrisburg in the Subway
Capitol 5000 tomorrow. The total purse for the elite race is $8.000.
But Dr. Larry
Silver, I.O.'s son who also entered the medical profession, said the most
important part of the race is its cause. |
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"All our money goes to I.O. Silver Cardiovascular Specialties Clinic
of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center," the younger Silver
said. "It all stays locally. The heart is the leading
cause of death, so the money is for the best cause." The
proceeds, which topped $85,000 last year, goes directly to research at the
Hershey center.
Both the male
and female winners of the 5K Silver Classic, which begins on Walnut Street
near Strawberry Square at 9:15 a.m., will take home $1,000. Not
surprising, some of the top professional racing talent is drawn to the
event. The defendingmen's champion, Ben Kapsoiya, made his way
from Kenya to Harrisburg and won the event with a time of 11:10.
"They come from all over to run in races in America," Silver
said. "They come for a couple of years, run a few races and
make up to $100,000 then go back to Kenya a lot richer."
Last year's
overall women's champion, Michelle King of Canada, led the race from start
to finish. This year's field includes 1984 U.S. Olympic marathoner
John Tuttle and Mike Mykytok, who won the U.S. title in the 10,000 meters
in 1997. Hershey's Misti Demko, one of the top runners in the
nation, will also compete, getting back into the racing scene after time
off to have a baby.
Prize money is
given to 26 different finishers, plus a $100 premium goes to both the men
and women leaders at the race's one-mile mark.
At 8:30 a.m.
they will run 5K People's Race, which awards trophies to finishers in different
age groups. The Kids' 1/3 Mile Run and the 1 Mil Fun Run-Walk will both
follow the Silver Classic. |
