Ike Davis plays big role in cancer fight

The New York Mets’ Ike Davis is known for his big hits and toughplays on the field, but the first baseman recently supported adifferent type of team to try and get a win off the diamond.

Davis brought hosted Striking out Childhood Cancer: A Night withIke Davis July 17, to raise money and support for young childrenwho suffer from the deadly disease.

Ike Davis is the kind of player and person that anybody would wanton their team, said Scott Kennedy, executive director andco-founder of Solving Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit organizationdedicated to improving the number of cancer survivors.

Kennedy called the event, A highly memorable experience for sportsfans and deeply appreciated by everyone involved in the fightagainst childhood cancer.

Davis was inspired to join the fight against cancer and start thefundraising event in honor of his childhood friend, Mike Lio, whodied from sarcoma at age 22.

He welcomed over 250 guests at the charity dinner in Michael’srestaurant on Avenue R, which is his favorite restaurant inBrooklyn, answering questions, taking pictures with the childrenand fans, and signing autographs.

There were a raffle and an auction with prizes such as a five-hourfishing trip with the infielder, a team trip to Cooperstown andMets VIP packages. The proceeds were donated to Solving Kids’Cancer and The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.

Davis plans for the event to be an annual fundraiser and said, Weraised over $70,000 at our event. Hopefully, it will do some goodto help find a cure for this dreaded disease.