Ike Davis might be on the disabled list, but the Mets first baseman is not sitting on the sideline.
While Davis, out since May with a bone bruise in his left ankle, is working to get back on the field, he also is working with two local charities to raise awareness and money for cancer research, particularly cancers affecting children and young adults.
The tall lefty received a cortisone shot in his ankle last week and said he will give it three more weeks to heal before undergoing what would be season-ending surgery.
“I’m feeling OK, gonna start running again [tomorrow] and we’ll see how it goes,” Davis said last night at Michael’s Restaurant in Brooklyn, where he hosted “A Night with Ike Davis” to benefit a pair of cancer funds.
Both organizations, Solving Kids’ Cancer and The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, were founded by parents who lost children to cancer. Davis, who lost childhood friend Michael Lio to Ewing’s Sarcoma 21 months ago, is not just a celebrity making an appearance — he cares deeply about the cause and last night’s event was his idea.
“Losing someone and seeing the family go through that at such a young age, it’s just not right,” Davis said. “Parents watching their [children] die, that hit deep inside me. It just didn’t feel right, so if I can do little things to make a difference in a kid’s life or young adult’s life, I’m going to do it.”
Even if Davis misses the remainder of the season, he still is a hero to many brave youngsters — and their parents — who are battling conditions much more serious than a bum ankle.
“There are two types of tragedies in the world,” said John London, a co-founder of SKC. “There’s everything you can think of, and there’s losing a child.”
Last night’s event featured an auction that included a chartered fishing trip with Davis, a trip to Cooperstown for a Little League team, Mets VIP packages and more. A commemorative T-shirt was designed by 10-year-old Max LaRosa of Queens, who is battling osteosarcoma. Davis selected the design.
Davis, who was batting .302 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs when he was injured, mingled with the 250 guests and participated in a question-and-answer period.
For more information, visit solvingkidscancer.org and SarcomaHelp.org.