A Triathlete's Tribute to His Son

Bruce Silverberg, M.D., swims, bikes and runs to celebrate his son's health

Ticket to ride

Not only does Bruce Silverberg, M.D., enjoy riding a tandem bicycle with son Bill, he used the time to train for his first triathlon (below). The event raised money to fight leukemia, a disease Bill defeated.

The morning air was so thick in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, Bruce Silverberg, M.D., could feel the humidity condense on his skin. Heavy downpours overnight caused the Schuylkill River to swell, making it unsafe for swimmers. But as the 58-year-old cardiologist awaited the start of his first triathlon, he wasn’t thinking about the weather. Instead he thought about how every stride and pedal of the upcoming run and bike ride would celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his son Bill’s victory over leukemia.

Now 22, Bill was diagnosed with cancer of the blood cells at age 2. Following months of aggressive chemotherapy at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Bill went into remission. Today, he remains cancer-free and works part-time in the LVH–Cedar Crest cafeteria. “He’s suffered so much,” Silverberg says of his son, who also has Down syndrome. “The triathlon was my chance to help others with leukemia.”

He did so through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. It links athletes with fitness trainers to prepare them for a marathon, century (100-mile) bike ride or triathlon. In return, athletes raise money to find a cure for blood cancers. “I raised $3,100 by writing letters to family and friends explaining what I was doing,” Silverberg says. In total, Team in Training raised more than $850,000 during Philadelphia’s race.

Silverberg started training for the triathlon—a 1500m swim, 40k bike ride and 5k run—six months ago. “I’ve always been a runner, I occasionally rode a bike, but I never swam a long distance,” he says. Consequently, much of the time with his Team in Training coach was spent in the water. Little did he know heavy rain would force the swim to be cancelled. “I made a commitment and slowly I began to improve—in all three sports,” he says.

Finding the time necessary to train wasn’t easy, but he found a way. “I trained early in the morning, late at night and on my personal days,” he says. “Through it all, Bill motivated me.”

When the triathlon started, Silverberg was nervous. “So many people knew I was doing this,” he says, “I wanted to tell them I finished.” His hard work paid off. He finished in under three-and-a-half hours. “I was glad Bill was there to celebrate with me,” he says.

Silverberg continues to wear a purple rubber bracelet that conveys Team in Training’s motto, “Train, Endure, Achieve, Matter.” Bill says of his father, “I’m proud of him.” To Silverberg, that’s all that matters.

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