Mets Hall of Famer and Fans Run Up Empire State Building For Charity

On February 1, two friends of Studious Metsimus will be running an uphill battle (literally) for a good cause. Sharon Chapman and Phil Hees will be among the many runners who will be racing their way to the top of the Empire State Building on Tuesday. They will be running up the 1,576 steps to support Team For Kids (you can read more about Team For Kids by clicking here).

Sharon has been an active member of Team McGraw, running at numerous events (including the 2010 ING New York City Marathon) in an effort to raise money and awareness for children and adults with brain tumors. The Tug McGraw Foundation uses this support in an effort to improve the quality of life of those patients and their caregivers.

Sharon Chapman (seen here with fellow Empire State Building runner Phil Hees during the 2010 ING New York City Marathon) scores the winning run every time she participates in a charitable event. She is also a die-hard Mets fan and is a big hit with Mets bloggers, as evidenced by her Mets cap, Team McGraw bracelet and singlet, "Ya Gotta Believe" necklace and Faith and Fear in Flushing wristband. (Photo taken by Kevin Chapman)

Sharon and Phil will not be the only runners with ties to the Mets. Former Met and current SNY studio analyst Darryl Strawberry will also be racing to the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building. The Straw Man will be running in support of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, which strives to find a cure for those suffering with the disease.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects the body's plasma cells. Strawberry is a cancer survivor himself, after being diagnosed with colon cancer in 1998, which makes this run personal for him.

Sharon and Phil will be seeing this familiar face as they make their ascent to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.

Please join us as we doff our Mets caps in honor of Sharon Chapman, Phil Hees, Darryl Strawberry and all of the runners who will be climbing their way to the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building on Tuesday in support of Team For Kids and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

As they make their run towards the sky, they will also be running into our hearts and the hearts of all those who will benefit from their contributions.