Fish For A Cure Raises Record $1.4 Million
The 2026 tournament's fundraising total supports cancer survivorship services at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Philanthropy
The 2026 Fish For A Cure tournament raised a record $1.4 million for the Cancer Survivorship Program at the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The event's lifetime fundraising has surpassed $9.1 million.
Why it matters
The funds support cancer patients and survivors receiving care in Annapolis and the surrounding Anne Arundel County area. The record total reflects growing community participation in the event's fishing, fundraising and Shore Party components.
The 2026 tournament raised $1.4 million from nearly 3,000 individual donations ranging from $1 to $50,000, plus $400,570 from 87 sponsors and community partners. Ten boats took part for the first time among 48 boats and 313 anglers.
The players
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
A hospital in Anne Arundel County that houses the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute and its Cancer Survivorship Program.
Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute
The cancer institute at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center that operates the Cancer Survivorship Program funded by the tournament.
Safe Harbor Annapolis
The marina venue in Annapolis that will host the next Fish For A Cure tournament.
The details
Fish For A Cure combines a fishing tournament, a fundraising competition and a Shore Party. The Paul C. Dettor Captain's Challenge recognizes teams for fundraising, while the fishing competition awards teams based on their catches; Team Bluejay won first place with a combined catch of 82.25 inches. Reel Counsel and Team LaxFish each surpassed $1 million in lifetime fundraising.
Timeline
2026: The tournament raised a record $1.4 million.
Saturday, November 6, 2027: The next tournament is scheduled at Safe Harbor Annapolis.
2027: The event will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Philanthropy Landscape
The Cancer Survivorship Program at the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute is the specific beneficiary of this record fundraising total. The tournament's growth to $9.1 million lifetime reflects sustained donor support for survivorship care rather than only acute treatment.
Residents who wish to support the program can donate through the tournament's fundraising efforts or sponsorships. Anglers and teams can register for future tournaments to contribute directly to the Cancer Survivorship Program.
The takeaway
Community fundraising events that combine recreation with philanthropy can sustain long-term support for specialized cancer care. Readers interested in similar efforts can look for local tournaments and sponsorship opportunities that direct proceeds to survivorship programs.
What happens next
The next Fish For A Cure tournament is scheduled for Saturday, November 6, 2027, at Safe Harbor Annapolis.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy coverage for other community fundraising efforts in the Annapolis area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eye On Annapolis.
