Castaways Against Cancer

What Castaways Against Cancer does

Castaways Against Cancer, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Steve O'Brien after losing his mother to cancer, headquartered in Miami, Florida. The organization is 100% volunteer-run with no paid staff, operating with a mailing address at 8724 Sunset Drive #357, Miami, FL 33173-3512. Its mission is to fund cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and to honor individuals affected by the disease.

The organization's core product is a portfolio of annual endurance fundraising events traversing the Miami-to-Key West corridor: a seven-day, 160-mile kayaking expedition (the original event); a one-day, 170-mile cycling ride introduced in 2020; and a two-day, 170-mile running relay introduced in 2023. These events are consolidated under the 'Ring the Bell Tour' brand, with the 2026 edition themed around America's 250th anniversary. Supporting infrastructure includes a Squarespace-hosted website, a Shopify merchandise storefront, email newsletters, interactive GPS tracking of participants, and a SmugMug photo archive. Donations are accepted online and by mail, with a recognized $5,000+ Iron Manatee Club tier.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, merchandise sales, and event-driven fundraising. The organization reports having raised 'millions' cumulatively since inception, though no annual revenue figure is disclosed. Operating geographies are limited to Southeast Florida for events, while donation channels are open nationwide. The entity is governed by a Board of Directors, registered as a Florida nonprofit (FDACS Registration No. CH64123), and holds EIN 85-0828323.

Name

Castaways Against Cancer

Legal name

Castaways Against Cancer, Inc.

Website

https://castawaysagainstcancer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Castaways Against Cancer is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Miami that funds cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center through annual Miami-to-Key West endurance events, including kayaking, cycling, and running.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Cancer Research Fundraising

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives) (MPAKAIAC), Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)

Keywords

• Cancer research fundraising
• Endurance charity events
• Volunteer nonprofit organization
• Cancer awareness fundraising
• Charitable donation platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises money through annual endurance events (kayaking, cycling, running) and accepts donations via its website and mail. Funds support cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Castaways Against Cancer is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center by hosting annual endurance fundraising events. Participants kayak 160 miles over seven days, cycle 170 miles in one day, and run a 170-mile relay over two days, all traveling from Miami to Key West. The organization also accepts online and mailed donations and sells branded merchandise through a Shopify storefront to support its mission.

Product overview

Castaways Against Cancer is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on funding cancer research through endurance fundraising events. The organization operates a portfolio of event-based fundraising programs: the core activities include a seven-day, 160-mile kayaking expedition from Miami to Key West; a two-day, 170-mile running relay; and a one-day, 170-mile cycling challenge. These events collectively form the annual 'Ring the Bell Tour.' The organization also accepts donations through its website and operates a Shopify-powered merchandise shop. What began with four kayakers in 2000 has grown into a movement raising millions for cancer research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kayaking Expeditions Seven-day, 160-mile kayaking journey from Miami to Key West serving as a core annual fundraising activity for cancer research supporters.
• Running Relays Two-day, 170-mile running relay from Miami to Key West as part of the organization's annual fundraising activities.
• Cycling Events One-day, 170-mile cycling challenge from Miami to Key West to raise funds for cancer research.
• Donations Platform Online donation system accepting contributions to support cancer research, with options to donate to specific team members and recognition tiers including the Iron Manatee Club ($5,000+).
• Merchandise Shop Shopify-powered online storefront selling Castaways Against Cancer branded merchandise, including apparel and accessories.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe primary beneficiary of Castaways Against Cancer's fundraising efforts. All funds raised support groundbreaking cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The partnership is the core purpose of the organization's existence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is the largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit and operates Relay For Life, a comparable mass-participation cancer fundraising event format, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Livestrong Foundation: Livestrong is a large, established cancer-focused nonprofit offering broad programs and advocacy, comparable as a high-profile cancer charity organization but operating at a much larger scale than the volunteer-based Castaways model.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: The V Foundation is a major cancer research grantmaker founded by Jim Valvano, comparable as a cancer-research-focused fundraising organization with a far larger donor base and grantmaking footprint.

Direct peers

• Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society): Team in Training trains participants for endurance events (marathons, cycling, triathlons) to raise funds for blood cancer research, directly comparable as an endurance-sport charity fundraising model for cancer.
• Pelotonia: Pelotonia is a cycling-based endurance fundraising event for cancer research, directly comparable to Castaways Against Cancer in its event-driven, volunteer-supported model and cancer-research mission.
• Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC): PMC is a multi-day cycling fundraiser benefiting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, closely comparable in using endurance cycling to raise money for a single cancer research beneficiary.
• Cycle for Survival: Cycle for Survival is an indoor cycling event raising funds for rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, comparable as an endurance cycling fundraising event supporting cancer research.
• Obliteride: Obliteride is a Seattle-based cycling and 5K fundraising event supporting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, comparable as an endurance-sport charity ride benefiting a single cancer research institution.

Emerging players

• Empire State Ride: Empire State Ride is a multi-day cycling event benefiting cancer research, comparable as an endurance cycling fundraiser for cancer but with a different geographic focus (across New York State).

Regional players

• Jimmy Fund / Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge: The Jimmy Fund Marathon Challenge is a Boston Marathon charity program benefiting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, comparable as a single-beneficiary cancer research fundraising event, but regional to New England rather than Southeast Florida.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Castaways4aCure
• Facebookfacebook.com/castawaysagainstcancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/castawaysagainstcancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Castaways Against Cancer