Hearing the words "you have cancer" is devastating. I heard those words 12 years ago and my heart dropped. Happily, I am a 12-year survivor of breast cancer. My treatment was done at Sylvester Cancer Center/UM and that is one of the reasons I fund raise with the Castaways. 100% of our donations go to funding research at Sylvester to find the cure to end cancer and for better treatments. But sadly, in the past few years I have had too many friends pass on from cancer. My trip this year is dedicated to my friend Janet, who passed very suddenly this past June from pancreatic cancer. A woman full of love and joy, who gave of herself to VOICES, an organization that helps children in foster care to achieve their dreams. She was also a garden club member and my church friend Jeni's mom. I am doing a different type of fundraising this year. Being a "senior citizen" my mind says you can kayak 110 miles in 5 days while my body says what are you thinking. So I will do a "golden oldie" triathlon, I plan to walk the length of the keys, bike the length of the keys and do the same kayaking. But it will take 6 months and I will start New Years Day, what a way to start 2024, the desire to kick cancer's ass. I will dedicate each leg to your loved one's name who have heard the words "you have cancer". Blessed Be