Climbing 1,576 steps to the top of the Empire State Building is no small feat—but for 32 athletes representing the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), every step carried purpose. On October 8, 2025, Team CAF took on the Empire State Building Run-Up with determination, heart, and a shared mission to raise funds and awareness for athletes with physical disabilities.

This year’s team reflected CAF’s global reach, with participants traveling from across the U.S. and even the United Kingdom to join the event. The day began at the New York Stock Exchange, where CAF athlete Edery Herrera and Team Toyota Paralympic Guide-Runner Jerome Avery had the honor of ringing the opening bell—symbolizing the strength and perseverance of the athletes CAF supports. Later that evening, the duo conquered all 86 flights together, setting a new record for the fastest visually impaired athlete and guide team.

Despite an early rainstorm, the skies cleared just in time for the race, revealing sweeping views of New York City from the 86th floor finish line. Among the field, Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee finished seventh overall in an impressive 12 minutes and 28 seconds. But the night belonged to every CAF athlete who took on the climb—Edery Herrera and Jerome Avery, Roosevelt Morring and Juliana Martinez, Robert Rodriguez, Kelly Worrell, and Dan Klotz—each proving that barriers are meant to be broken.

“Climbing 1,576 steps to the top of the Empire State Building was quite the challenge but doing it on Team CAF with other athletes with disabilities made every step even more meaningful,” said CAF Northeast Programs Manager Kelly Worrell, who also competed. “Each floor was a reminder of why we do this—CAF has been there for me and thousands of other athletes by providing adaptive equipment, sports expenses, and a community that keeps us moving forward.”

The top fundraiser, Dimitar Nikolov, led the charge with $8,325 raised, followed by Bill Bianco ($4,310) and Jennifer Hanley ($3,643). Together, the event raised more than $65,000 to help athletes with physical disabilities pursue their athletic goals.

After the race, the celebration continued at a CAF after-party hosted at Tacombi, where athletes and supporters shared stories and reflected on the day’s accomplishments. To cap off the night, CAF and Toyota surprised Edery with a $2,500 grant to fuel his training and future competitions, including next year’s San Diego Triathlon Challenge.

From ringing the bell at the NYSE to racing up 86 stories of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the 2025 Empire State Building Run-Up embodied CAF’s belief that through sport, anything is possible.