Olympic Silver Medal Runner Leo Manzano
Serving
as Official Starter for
17th Annual Great Pumpkin Fun Run
Benefiting Nonprofit Texas Heart Institute
Olympian Leo Manzano, silver medalist, with Dr. Denton A. Cooley
Houston, Texas (October 10, 2012) – Olympic Silver Medalist
(1,500 meter run) and former University of Texas track star Leo Manzano will
serve as Official Starter for the 17th Annual Great Pumpkin Fun Run,
beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2012.
|
Join us on October 27th in Houston 
|
Manzano
won the Silver Medal in an exciting come-from-behind finish in London, his
second Olympic Games. Manzano, who lives and trains in Austin, was the first
American to capture an Olympic medal in the 1,500 meter race since the 1968
Games in Mexico City. He is a Texas Heart Institute Ambassador, helping reach
out to young people and the broader community about the importance of heart
health (visit his page for more background and tips).
Manzano,
as official starter, will join founder of the Texas Heart Institute, Dr. Denton
A. Cooley, who will serve as Grand Marshal for the event.
The 2012 Great Pumpkin Fun Run, sponsored by
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, benefits the research and education programs
of the nonprofit Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. The
starting line is at Hermann Square at Smith & Walker, in front of Houston
City Hall.
The Great Pumpkin event includes:
- A wheelchair event beginning at
7:55 a.m.
- The Great Pumpkin Dash (5K run),
starting at 8 a.m. (race timing will be done by Bib Chip)
- The Goblin Gait (noncompetitive
5k walk) starting at 8 a.m
- The Witches Walk (1k walk and jog
for kids) beginning at 9 a.m.
- A post-race party in Hermann
Square, featuring live entertainment by The Guzzlers
- A children's post-race costume
contest sponsored by LINN Energy.
All
participants must be registered. Information and registration are available
online at www.texasheart.org.
Sponsors
of the Great Pumpkin Fun Run include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, LINN
Energy, United Airlines, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Porter Hedges LLP,
Bank of Houston, Houston's 103.7 FM radio, Watermill Express, 104 KRBE Radio,
Health & Fitness Sports Magazine, Tony's restaurant, Cici's Pizza, Coca
Cola, John Daugherty Realtors, Shipley DoNuts, the Morton A. Cohn Family, and Heart
Exchange Support Group.
Note : Olympian Leo Manzano will be available
for interviews upon request.
For media inquiries please contact:
Director of Public Affairs
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
Frank Michel ♦ 832-355-9510 ♦ fmichel@texasheart.org
For THI and St. Luke's media profiles, see Public Affairs.
