About the Tour:

Florida Keys legend, Big Mo is the 20-foot-long hammerhead shark that lurks beneath the Seven Mile Bridge. Stories of the massive shark smashing through tarpon grabbed a hold of locals right when the Castaways Against Cancer began kayaking those waters.

Like the stories of Big Mo, cancer can be a scary monster. That’s why the Castaways Against Cancer will fight back against the darkness of the

depths in 2025 with the Bigger Boat Tour! We need to fill this “bigger boat” with kayakers, cyclists, runners, landlubbers, and donors who support the mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who’ve fought the fight.

As the Castaways honor, fight, and celebrate, come support the Bigger Boat Tour and help “take a bite out of cancer!”

About us:

The Castaways Against Cancer is a 100% volunteer non-profit comprised of fun-loving, mission-driven individuals focused on fighting cancer. What makes this team unique is the series of arduous journeys they endure every summer from Miami to Key West. Kayakers paddle 160 miles over seven days, runners relay 170 miles over two days, and cyclists pedal the same 170 miles in one grueling day, all to raise money, awareness, and honor those affected by cancer.

What began with a group of four sea-hippies on the water in 2000 has grown into a powerful movement with dozens of volunteers, raising millions for ground-breaking cancer research. The Castaways Against Cancer continues to be fueled by the original mission of its founder, Steve O'Brien, who more than two decades ago, got in his kayak after losing his mother to cancer. O'Brien was inspired to "light a candle rather than curse the darkness," which still fuels the Castaways and its community of supporters today. Patrick Linfors, a legendary Castaway and one of the original four kayakers, sums it up perfectly: “We’ve come so far in so many ways, but so much more needs to be done. We do this for a cure.”

In the end, it's simple. The Castaways kayak, cycle, and run, and your donations keep hope alive for a world that's one day, cancer-free.

Click HERE to view all of our 2025 partners and sponsors!

Castaways Against Cancer 2025 - The Bigger Boat Tour

Take a Bite Out of Cancer

Team Leaderboard

Team Members