Having just returned from its 11th sailing, the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer exceeded all fundraising records onboard the annual “floating Buckeye Nation.” Coordinated by Travel Partners in Dublin, Ohio, the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer is an annual fundraiser supporting the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research and other cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). The 2018 cruise raised $3 million, exceeding the $2.5 million record set in 2017. Featuring more than 30 former Buckeye greats including AJ Hawk, James Laurinaitis and Joshua Perry, as well as current and former members of the Ohio State football coaching staff — Kerry Coombs, Stan Jefferson, Larry Johnson and Mark Pantoni — more than 2,300 Buckeyes from around the country converged on Ft. Lauderdale to board Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas. Highlights of the week included a meaningful recognition of the more than 300 cancer survivors onboard, a live auction, Buckeye-themed fun at the pool, dueling pianos under the stars and presentations from several physicians whose work benefits from funds raised by the Buckeye Cruise. The cruise stopped in Labadee, Haiti — Royal Caribbean’s private island — and Key West, where more than 700 cruisers participated in a walk/run benefiting the cause. One of the most impactful fundraisers onboard the cruise is the Fund a Need auction, which helps to purchase important shared research equipment and technologies for the more than 300 researchers at the OSUCCC – James. This year’s Fund a Need raised $400,000 to purchase a Thermo Scientific TSQ Altis Triple-Stage Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. This cutting-edge technology offers researchers — most notably those who focus on detecting and treating cancer cells—unparalleled ability to analyze the most complex molecules and to detect cancer at its earliest stage. This robust scientific tool will enable the world-renowned cancer experts at the OSUCCC – James to improve cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Dates for the 2019 Buckeye Cruise for Cancer are being finalized. For up-to-date information, please visit buckeyecruise.com. Look forward to seeing you next year. Go Bucks!